Family Life Education

Family Life Education (FLE) is Virginia’s version of sex education. Subject matter can range from what a family is, to puberty, to how to protect oneself from sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Our concern is that schools are teaching children topics that are either not age appropriate, or not appropriate at all, and are undermining what parents may be teaching their child.

Parents have the right to opt their child out of FLE classes, but many do not know what is being taught. Our objective is to share as much information as possible with parents so that they can make an informed decision about whether their child should participate in FLE classes. We hope to soon begin a ranking system to help parents determine whether or not the class is right for their child.

While school districts are required to teach to certain standards of learning, as directed by the Department of Education, school districts may not have identical curricula, and may be presented at different grade levels, based on their resources and the ideology of the school board. As a result, not every school district is represented in our list due to availability of information. If your school district is missing, we highly encourage you to contact your school to view their FLE curriculum.

It’s also important for parents to have alternative materials they can use when having meaningful conversations with their kids, whether they choose to opt their child out of the FLE curriculum or not. Here are a few resources you may find to be helpful and safe alternatives that align with your values and beliefs:

Find your County/City

Accomack County

Albemarle County

Alexandria City

Alleghany County

Amelia County

Amherst County

Appomattox County

Augusta County

Bath County

  • Bath FLE Policy - “The School Board develops and distributes to the parents or guardians of students participating in the FLE program a summary designed to assist them in understanding the program implemented in its school division and to encourage parental guidance and involvement in the instruction of the students. Such information reflects the curricula of the program as taught in the classroom. The following statement is included on the summary: "Parents and guardians have the right to review the family life education program offered by their school division, including written and audio-visual educational materials used in the program. Parents and guardians also have the right to excuse their child from all or part of family life education instruction."

  • Resources

Bedford County

Bland County

  • According to Bland County Public Schools, “Each school board shall develop and distribute to parents or guardians of a student participating in the family life education program a summary designed to assist parents in understanding the program implemented in its school division as such program progresses and to encourage parental guidance and involvement in the instruction of the students. Such information shall reflect the curricula of the program as taught in the classroom. The school division shall include the following information on the summary:
    "Parents and guardians have the right to review the family life education program offered by their school division, including written and audio-visual educational materials used in the program. Parents and guardians also have the right to excuse their child from all or part of family life education instruction."

  • FLE Policy and Content Overview

  • INTRODUCTION
     
     An important element in the successful implementation of a Family Life Education program is parent/community involvement.  A theme that runs throughout the program is the parent/teacher team approach to Family Life Education.  Because of the sensitive nature of program content, a planned approach to parent/community involvement is critical.  
     
    PLAN FOR PARENT/COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
     
     In each school division that offers Family Life Education, the superintendent will identify a community involvement team, or use the school health advisory board, which should include individuals such as central office personnel, an elementary school principal, a middle school principal, a high school principal, teachers, a school board member, parents, one or more members of the clergy, a member of the medical and mental health profession, which may include a substance abuse prevention or treatment practitioner, and others in the community. 
     
     Parents and community-based personnel are encouraged to participate in statewide and local training sessions for Family Life Education.  
     
     The community involvement team or school health advisory board members will work with others in their localities to offer an ongoing plan to explain the Family Life Education program and to solicit support and involvement in its implementation.  
     
    PARENT INVOLVEMENT ACTIVITIES
     
     Department of Education staff members provide workshops and training sessions on Family Life Education and related topics at the state leadership conference and in localities as requested. Parents participate on the statewide HIV/STD Resources Review Panel and on other planning committees as formed.  One of the current 15 training modules addresses Strengthening Parental Involvement in Family Life Education.  School and community-based personnel as well as other parents are encouraged to participate in workshops that outline the key components of Family Life Education and the role of parents in the program.  
     
     Each teacher of Family Life Education is asked to meet with parents of students involved in the program.  Provision must be in place for an ongoing review of local curriculum and instructional materials before they are used in the classroom.  It is recommended that a resource center containing Family Life Education materials that may be checked out by parents is available in every school.  

  • Resources

Botetourt County

Bristol

Brunswick County

  • Brunswick FLE Policy - “The School Board develops and distributes to the parents or guardians of students participating in the FLE program a summary designed to assist them in understanding the program implemented in its school division and to encourage parental guidance and involvement in the instruction of the students. Such information reflects the curricula of the program as taught in the classroom. The following statement is included on the summary: "Parents and guardians have the right to review the family life education program offered by their school division, including written and audio-visual educational materials used in the program. Parents and guardians also have the right to excuse their child from all or part of family life education instruction."

  • Resources

Buchanan County

Buckingham County

Buena Vista City

Campbell County

Caroline County

  • Caroline FLE Policy - “The School Board develops and distributes to the parents or guardians of students participating in the FLE program a summary designed to assist them in understanding the program implemented in its school division and to encourage parental guidance and involvement in the instruction of the students. Such information reflects the curricula of the program as taught in the classroom. The following statement is included on the summary: "Parents and guardians have the right to review the family life education program offered by their school division, including written and audio-visual educational materials used in the program. Parents and guardians also have the right to excuse their child from all or part of family life education instruction."

  • Resources

Carroll County

Charles City County

Charlotte County

Charlottesville City

Chesapeake City

  • Chesapeake FLE Policy - “Some parents may feel that topics involving human sexuality are too personal for presentation in a school setting. Parents have the right to remove their child from this unit or portions of this unit that they find objectionable. Before any of the Family Life units are taught a letter is sent home for parents to make a decision about whether their child will participate in the Family Life Education classes. Please direct any questions about the Family Life Education classes to your child’s principal.”

  • FLE Content Overview -

    “Elementary and intermediate students receive instruction for three days and middle/secondary students receive instruction for a minimum of five days. The Family Life Education unit is offered to students in grades five through nine. Only age-appropriate information will be given in accordance to the grade level.

    The school system also offers a Special Needs Family Life Education curriculum. This curriculum is taught in conjunction with the elementary and secondary classes.

    The Family Life specialists also present a HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infection presentation as a review to all twelfth-grade students. HIV/AIDS is a major health concern in today’s society. To stop the spread of this disease, it is urgent that everyone be educated about HIV/AIDS. This information stresses the importance of this abstinence based program for our graduating seniors. This presentation requires one full class time of instruction. Seniors attend this presentation in their government class.”

  • Grades 5-9 and High School Special Needs 

  • Abstinence encouraged

  • Resources

Clarke County

Colonial Beach

Colonial Heights

Covington City

Craig County

Culpeper County

  • FLE Content Overview

    • Elementary - Students learn the difference between good touch, bad touch, and secret touch. A presentation of Hugs and Kisses is performed and used as a teaching tool.

    • Middle School - “Students learn about human sexuality, reproductive systems, the maturation process, prenatal development, and puberty. Students also discuss peer pressure, development of sexuality as an aspect of total personality, as well as, psychological and social changes during adolescence."

    • High School - “Students learn about substance abuse, sexually transmitted disease prevention, and making healthy choices. Students continue study on human reproduction including the influence of alcohol/drugs on fetal development.”

  • Boys and girls are separated in Middle school and High school

  • Abstinence encouraged

  • “To review the complete Family Life Education curriculum, you can visit your child’s school or contact Mr. Donovan O’Brien, Curriculum Specialist at (540)825-3677 ext. 3126.”

  • Resources

Cumberland County

Danville City

Dickenson County

Dinwiddie County

  • According to Dinwiddie County Public Schools, “Grade level strands will be sent home annually. It is the policy of the Dinwiddie County School Board, with respect to Family Life Education, parents and guardians have the right to review the family life education program offered by their school division, including written and audio-visual educational materials used in the program. Parents and guardians also have the right to excuse their child from all or part of family life education instruction. Parents/guardians will notify the school division in writing if the student is not to participate in the program. (Opt-Out of Family Life Curriculum)”

  • Resources

Essex County

Fairfax City

  • Fairfax City has no information regarding their FLE ploicy or curriculum listed on their website.

  • Because the City of Fairfax and Fairfax County have a partnership, see the Fairfax County FLE policies.

Fairfax County

Fauquier County

Floyd County

Frederick County

Fredericksburg City

Galax City

Giles County

Gloucester County

Goochland County

Grayson County

Greene County

Greensville County

Halifax County

Hanover County

Harrisonburg City

Henrico County

Henry County

  • FLE Policy - “For a detailed description of the Family Life Curriculum and information specific to your child’s grade level, refer to the FAMILY tab found on the HOME page of our Henry County Public Schools website. Parents may also review the objectives, materials, and videos prior to the lessons being taught by contacting Patricia Carter, Family Life Coordinator, For The Children-Partners In Prevention at 276-6381146 or Sue Townes at 276-634-4702.”

  • Henry County gives parents the option to opt-in, as opposed to opt-out, of FLE. Parents can opt-in when completing their child’s infosnap or fill out the opt-in form and submit to his/her classroom teacher.  

  • Content Overview

  • Abstinence encouraged

  •  Benefits of adoption as a positive choice in the event of an unwanted pregnancy highlighted.

  • Resources

Highland County

Hopewell City

Isle of Wight County

  • FLE Policy - “The FLE objectives are taught throughout the school year through many crossover objectives found in other curriculums. Health, social studies, science, and economics are just a few of the courses that cover objectives found in the FLE curriculum.

    Parents have the opportunity to view the program materials and videos. Students can be opted out of part or all of the curriculum, although it will be explained to them that the crossover objectives will be taught in their respective areas.

    Isle of Wight County Schools has trained their Physical Education teachers to handle the sensitive materials in sex-separated classes once a year. The superintendent sends a letter home, with their child’s grade appropriate objectives, prior to teaching these objectives for the parents to review.”

  • Resources

King and Queen County

King George County

King William County

Lancaster County

Lee County

Lexington City

Louisa County

Lunenburg County

Lynchburg City

Madison County

  • FLE Policy - “ FLE objectives for each grade level are available for review in the front office of your child’s school. Please review these at your convenience. After reviewing this material, if you do not want your student to participate in the Family Life Education instruction please state this in writing to your student’s principal. Your student’s principal is also available to answer any questions you may have regarding instruction related to FLE.”

  • Content Overview (Grades K-12)

  • Resources

Manassas City

Martinsville City

Mathews County

Mecklenburg County

Middlesex County

Montgomery County

Nelson County

New Kent County

Newport News City

Norfolk City

Northampton County

Northumberland County

Norton City

Nottoway County

Orange County

Page County

Patrick County

Petersburg City

Pittsylvania County

Poquoson City

Portsmouth City

Powhatan County

Prince Edward County

Radford City

Rappahannock County

Richmond City

Richmond County

Roanoke City

Roanoke County

Rockbridge County

Rockingham County

Russell County

Scott County

Shenandoah County

Southampton County

Spotsylvania County

Stafford County

Staunton City

Suffolk City

  • Suffolk FLE Policy -

    “Parents have the option to withdraw their child from any part or all of the Family Life Education Program through an opt-out procedure. An opt-out form is available at each of the Suffolk Public Schools. If one elects to opt his/her child out of the program, it will be necessary to follow these guidelines:

    • Review the Family Life Education Program

    • Contact the School to View Materials.

    • Complete the opt-out form, available at the child's school, listing the objectives from which the child will be opted out.

    • Return the completed opt out form with parent signature to the school.”

  • FLE Content Overview

  • FLE Materials

  • Abstinence encouraged

  • Resources

Surry County

Sussex County

Tazewell County

  • Tazewell FLE Policy

    “The School Board develops and distributes to the parents or guardians of students participating in the FLE program a summary designed to assist them in understanding the program implemented in its school division and to encourage parental guidance and involvement in the
    instruction of the students. Such information reflects the curricula of the program as taught in the classroom. The following statement is included on the summary: "Parents and guardians have the right to review the family life education program offered by their school division, including written and audio-visual educational materials used in the program. Parents and guardians also have the right to excuse their child from all or part of family life education instruction."

  • Resources

Virginia Beach City

Washington County

West Point

Westmoreland County

Williamsburg - James City County

Winchester City

Wise County

Wythe County

York County

Additional Information

  • Virginia Department of Education Guidelines and Standards of Learning (2020)

    • Note: “The 1999 Virginia General Assembly amended Section 22.1-207 of the Code of Virginia and added ‘abstinence education’ as a Family Life Education instructional topic to the content areas identified in 1987: ‘family living and community relationships, the value of postponing sexual activity, human sexuality, human reproduction, and the etiology, prevention and effects of sexually transmitted diseases.’”