Human Growth and Development Curriculum Adoption
January 14, 2025
Context and Curriculum Adoption Process
Per the California Education Code, human growth and development curriculum and instruction must follow the California Healthy Youth Act of 2016 requirements. MHUSD Board Policy 6142.1 and MHUSD Administrative Regulation 6142.1 also outline human growth and development. MHUSD currently offers human growth and development instruction to fifth-, seventh-, and ninth-grade students.
The previous fifth-grade curriculum did not fully address the requirements of the California Healthy Youth Act of 2016. Adopting a new fifth-grade human growth and development curriculum ensures students receive comprehensive, age-appropriate instruction that meets current educational standards and addresses the diverse needs of our school community.
A Curriculum Evaluation Team was established in September 2024 through an application process. One fifth-grade parent and one fifth-grade teacher from the eight elementary and TK-8 schools were invited to the biweekly meetings between September and November 2024. Additionally, virtual community information meetings for families of third- through fifth-grade students were held on the Monday following each Curriculum Evaluation Team meeting to provide information and gather input from interested families. A total of four community information meetings were held.
The Curriculum Evaluation Team used the California Healthy Youth Act Compliance Assessment Tool to evaluate three potential curriculums from the list of approved curriculums from the California Department of Education. After evaluating and testing out the curriculums, the Curriculum Evaluation Team voted and made a recommendation to the Elementary Curriculum Council.
On December 2, 2024, teacher members from the Curriculum Evaluation Team presented the curriculum evaluation process and recommendation to the Elementary Curriculum Council. Council members shared the information at their school sites and information was sent out through the Educational Services Division Newsletter on December 4, 2024. The Elementary Curriculum Council completed voting on December 12, 2024, to make their recommendation to the MHUSD Board.
During the December 17, 2024, Board Meeting, members of the Curriculum Evaluation Team and the Director of Elementary Education presented information about the evaluation process and the recommendation from the Curriculum Evaluation Team and the Elementary Curriculum Council of Upper Elementary Positive Prevention Plus for fifth grade.
The Upper Elementary Positive Prevention Plus curriculum was available for public review from December 18, 2024, through January 14, 2025, at Los Paseos Elementary School in San Jose, the MHUSD District Office in Morgan Hill, and San Martin/Gwinn Environmental Science Academy in San Martin.
On January 14, 2025, the Board of Trustees approved the Upper Elementary Positive Prevention Plus fifth-grade curriculum.
Here is the Human Growth and Development presentation that was provided to the MHUSD Board on December 17, 2024, and January 14, 2025.
Accessing Positive Prevention Plus Upper Elementary Curriculum Materials
Positive Prevention Plus hosts a limited curriculum preview on their website at this address: https://positivepreventionplus.com/home/upper-elementary/
To comply with copyright restrictions, the full curriculum is not available online. As of January 15, 2025, parents/guardians and community members who would like to review the full teacher materials and digital content may do so at the the following locations:
- Jackson Academy of Math and Music
- Los Paseos Elementary
- P.A. Walsh STEAM Academy
- San Martin/Gwinn Environmental Science Academy
- The MHUSD District Office
Additional physical and digital materials for review at Barrett Elementary, El Toro Health Science Academy, Nordstrom Elementary, and Paradise Valley Engineering Academy will be available soon.
Positive Prevention Plus Upper Elementary Frequently Asked Questions
Please use this link to review the Frequently Asked Questions. This resource will be updated as new questions are received.
