Local News in Brief : Sex Education Program

The Los Angeles school board has agreed to offer sex education to fifth- and sixth-graders in 30 elementary schools next fall.

Using parent volunteers, school nurses and regular classroom teachers, the $108,000 pilot program will introduce material on physical and emotional changes in puberty, family structures and the responsibilities of parenting, said Ruth Rich, who oversees health instruction for the district. It also will teach youngsters about self-esteem and help them develop strategies to prevent being “pressured into early sexuality,” she said. The curriculum does not cover contraception, which is taught in health classes in 10th grade.

Sex education, which is not compulsory in California, is offered to all seventh- and 10th-grade students in the district, but officials say the information is presented too late for many youngsters. A handful of districts in Los Angeles County, such as the Pomona Unified School District, already offer early sex education in elementary grades.

The fifth- and sixth-grade courses proposed for Los Angeles district schools were taught at Third Street School in Hancock Park last year as a result of parent requests. The additional 30 schools that will teach the subject in the fall will be chosen on a voluntary basis.

Students will be required to obtain written parental consent in order to participate.