Update: The proposal addressing sex education standards has been withdrawn from the Round Rock school board agenda, according to the Austin American-Statesman. It writes that the health advisory committee that recommended the change was improperly assembled. It's uncertain at this time when (or if) the proposal will return for consideration.
Original post (11:57 a.m.): The Round Rock Independent School District’s Board of Education will be meeting tonight and sex education is on the agenda.
The board will discuss an implementation plan to teach students about contraceptives, a break from current "abstinence only" standards.
The discussion started back in August when the board received the School Health Advisory Committee’s annual report that recommended contraceptives be introduced at the eighth-grade level.
The board met again in October. Health professionals provided the board with data that indicated the number of cases of sexually transmitted diseases is increasing in Round Rock, compared with surrounding communities.
Tonight, the board will discus changes that can be made to the "Worth the Wait" and "Austin Life Guard" programs that teach students from eighth to the 12th grade about sex.
Right now, RRISD focuses on abstinence and teaches about puberty, anatomy, health risk behaviors and healthy relationships. But, if the board approves teaching contraceptive methods students would begin to learn about condoms, spermicides and other procedures that could prevent STDs and pregnancy.
The Austin Independent School District and Hays ISD already teaching the sorts of comprehensive sexual education approaches Round Rock is suggesting.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Round Rock High School Lecture Hall, 300 Lake Creek Drive in Round Rock, Texas.
