Montgomery County Public Schools on Wednesday announced the three middle schools and three high schools that will field-test the district’s new sexual education curriculum for eighth- and 10th-graders this spring.
They are Argyle, Julius West and Westland middle schools; and Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Sherwood and Watkins high schools.
According to schools Chief Public Information Officer Brian Edwards, staff members sent out a note to all middle and high schools in the district asking which were interested in participating. In the end, he explained, they came up with a list designed to represent a diverse geographic cross-section.
The students at these schools will be the first in the county exposed to five sex ed lessons adopted by the Board of Education last month. Four of them teach tolerance regarding sexual orientation, with two set for eighth-graders and two for 10th-graders. The remaining lesson, for 10th-graders, includes a short DVD about condom usage and an accompanying discussion about contraceptives.
Edwards said that although three local groups just asked the state to block the lessons, the district anticipates carrying through with field testing.
“We’re proceeding ahead with our plans until we receive instructions from the state education board that says otherwise,” he told The Examiner.
The lessons must begin by March 30, Edwards said, although it will be up to each school to decide the exact starting dates. Principals also are required to hold informational meetings at least two weeks prior to the first day of instruction at which parents can ask questions about the curriculum.
After the lessons, students and teachers will be asked what worked and what didn’t.
The purpose of the field testing, officials have said, is to fine-tune the lessons before debuting them districtwide in the fall.
