Hickman County Board of Education
Descriptor Term:
Descriptor Code:
Issued Date:
4.2013
08/05/24
Family Life Education
Rescinds:
Issued:
4.2013
06/03/24
1
A family life education program shall be implemented within the school district in compliance with state
2
law.
1
3
The Board shall annually evaluate the program and shall conduct public hearings and parental
4
conferences at least once (1) each September as part of the evaluation.
5
A parent who chooses not to have a student participate in the family life education program shall
6
submit such request in writing to the director of schools. A student who is excused from family life
7
instruction shall be assigned alternative activities and shall not be penalized academically.
8
Prior to implementing the family life education curriculum, the Board shall conduct at least one (1)
9
public hearing at which the plan will be explained and parents and community members shall be given
10
the opportunity to express their opinions.
11
FAMILY LIFE INSTRUCTION
12
The curriculum for the family life education program shall, in a manner that is age-appropriate and
13
factually and medically accurate, include the following:²
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1. Teach the skills needed to make healthy decisions in all aspects of marriage and family life;
15
2. Encourage sexual health by helping students understand how the whole person is affected by sexual
16
activity as well as other risk behaviors;
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3. Provide information about human reproduction, including conception, birth, and prenatal care, as well
18
as the process of adoption and its benefits;
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4. Provide information on the family unit and the responsibilities and consequences related to sexual
20
activity, including the challenges of single teen parenting;
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5.Promote only sexual risk avoidance through abstinence and the positive results of avoiding sexual
22
activity;
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6.Provide instruction on the detection, intervention, prevention, and treatment of child sexual abuse,
24
including such abuse that may occur in the home, human trafficking in which a victim is the child, and
25
internet crimes against children;
Version Date: June 23, 2026
Family Life Education
4.2013
1
7.Provide instruction on the prevention of dating violence;
2
8.Encourage communication between parent(s)/guardian(s) and students;
3
9.Address the legal aspects of sexual activity with emphasis on the rights of the student; and
4
10.Include the presentation of a high-quality, computer-generated animation or high-definition
5
ultrasound of a least three (3) minutes in duration that shows the development of the brain, heart, and
6
other vital organs in early fetal development per state academic standards.
7
Instruction in topics related to sexual activity are not age-appropriate for students in grades kindergarten
8
through five (K-5) and shall not be taught as part of the family life curriculum. This does not prohibit
9
instruction on detection, -intervention, prevention, and treatment of child sexual abuse and human
10
trafficking of children. 4
11
Instruction on family life education shall emphasize that abstinence from sexual relations is the only
12
method of protection that is 100% effective.
13
The family life education program shall be reviewed annually to ensure that the prohibited items of
14
instruction, as provided for in state law,⁵ are not included in the curriculum.
15
TRAINING ON INSTRUCTION
16
Personnel involved in instruction regarding human sexuality will conduct such instruction with
17
maturity and discretion. Personnel providing family life instruction shall receive in-service training
18
prior to presenting such instruction.
19
CHILD TRAFFICKING PREVENTION EDUCATION
20
Instruction on child trafficking prevention and awareness shall be provided for all students in grades K-
21
12 in a manner that is age-appropriate, grade-appropriate, and advances each year through
22
developmentally appropriate instruction and skill building.⁶
23
The Director of Schools/designee shall develop a plan to implement child trafficking prevention
24
education into the district's health education instruction and present it to the Board for approval.
25
REPORTING²
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At the beginning of each school year, the Director of Schools shall provide the contact information to
27
the Department of Children's Services of each employee or trained professional providing instruction
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on family life curriculum related to child sex abuse, human trafficking, and internet crimes. The
29
Director shall also report on the curriculum selected by the Board of Education.
Page 2 of 3
Family Life Education
4.2013
Legal References
1.
TCA 49-6-1302
2.
TCA 49-6-1304; Public Acts of 2024. Chapter No.
571
3.
Public Acts of 2024, Chapter No. 795
4.
Public Acts of 2024, Chapter No. 970
5.
TCA 49-6-1304(b)
6.
Public Acts of 2026, Chapter No. 744
7.
Page 3 of 3

## Table 1

|  | Hickman County Board of | Education |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | Descriptor Term: | Descriptor Code: 4.2013 | Issued Date: 08/05/24 |
|  | Family Life Education | Rescinds: 4.2013 | Issued: 06/03/24 |

## Table 2

| 1 | 7.Provide instruction on the prevention of dating violence; |
| --- | --- |
| 2 | 8.Encourage communication between parent(s)/guardian(s) and students; |
| 3 | 9.Address the legal aspects of sexual activity with emphasis on the rights of the student; and |
| 4 5 6 | 10.Include the presentation of a high-quality, computer-generated animation or high-definition ultrasound of a least three (3) minutes in duration that shows the development of the brain, heart, and other vital organs in early fetal development per state academic standards. |
| 7 8 9 10 | Instruction in topics related to sexual activity are not age-appropriate for students in grades kindergarten through five (K-5) and shall not be taught as part of the family life curriculum. This does not prohibit instruction on detection, -intervention, prevention, and treatment of child sexual abuse and human trafficking of children. 4 |
| 11 12 | Instruction on family life education shall emphasize that abstinence from sexual relations is the only method of protection that is 100% effective. |
| 13 14 | The family life education program shall be reviewed annually to ensure that the prohibited items of instruction, as provided for in state law,⁵ are not included in the curriculum. |
| 15 | TRAINING ON INSTRUCTION |
| 16 | Personnel involved in instruction regarding human sexuality will conduct such instruction with |
| 17 | maturity and discretion. Personnel providing family life instruction shall receive in-service training |
| 18 | prior to presenting such instruction. |
| 19 | CHILD TRAFFICKING PREVENTION EDUCATION |
| 20 | Instruction on child trafficking prevention and awareness shall be provided for all students in grades K- |
| 21 | 12 in a manner that is age-appropriate, grade-appropriate, and advances each year through |
| 22 | developmentally appropriate instruction and skill building.⁶ |
| 23 | The Director of Schools/designee shall develop a plan to implement child trafficking prevention |
| 24 | education into the district's health education instruction and present it to the Board for approval. |
| 25 | REPORTING² |
| 26 | At the beginning of each school year, the Director of Schools shall provide the contact information to |
| 27 | the Department of Children's Services of each employee or trained professional providing instruction |
| 28 | on family life curriculum related to child sex abuse, human trafficking, and internet crimes. The |
| 29 | Director shall also report on the curriculum selected by the Board of Education. |