Family Life Education Instructional Program Information

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) provides a comprehensive, sequential Family Life Education (FLE) program for students in grades kindergarten through grade twelve. Instruction is seen as a partnership among parents and guardians, the school, and the community in supporting the learning essential to the development of strong families, positive relationships, and a healthy community.

Parents/guardians may choose to opt their child out of all or part of the Family Life Education program. Students who are opted out are provided with age-appropriate, nonpunitive alternative health instruction, and every effort is made to foster respect for family choices. If you wish to opt your child out of all or part of FLE for this school year, opt out forms will be included in your child’s back-to-school/orientation packets and are available online for Elementary (K-6) https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-school-academics-k-6/elementary-family-life-education , Middle School (7-8) https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle-school-academics-7-8/family-life-education-fle, and High School (9-12) https://www.fcps.edu/academics/high-school-academics-9-12/family-life-education-fle. Please fill in the opt-out form and return it to your child’s school prior to Family Life Education instruction.

Program questions may be addressed at your child’s school or by contacting Instructional Services at 571-423-4550 or by contacting Carrie Reynolds, Health and Physical Education Coordinator at cfreynolds@fcps.edu.

A Letter to Parents/Guardians about Family Life Education

Dear Parent/Guardian:

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) provides a comprehensive, sequential Family Life Education (FLE) program for kindergarten through grade twelve. The FLE program is designed to provide students with the knowledge, attitudes, and skills to make healthy, responsible, respectful, and life-enhancing decisions related to human growth and development, relationships, and emotional and social health. Instruction is seen as a partnership among parents and guardians, the school, and the community in supporting the learning essential to the development of strong families, positive relationships, and a healthy community.

Parents/guardians may choose to opt their child out of all or part of the Family Life Education program. Students who are opted out are provided with age-appropriate, non-punitive alternative health instruction, and every effort is made to foster respect for family choices. If you wish to opt your child out of all or part of FLE for this school year, please complete the form that accompanies this letter or access the opt out forms online.

• Elementary (K-6) https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-school-academics-k-6/elementary-family-life-education

• Middle School (7-8) https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle-school-academics-7-8/family-life-education-fle

• High School (9-12) https://www.fcps.edu/academics/high-school-academics-9-12/family-life-education-fle.

• Please fill in the opt-out form and return it to your child’s school prior to Family Life Education instruction.

Your child will be included in all Family Life Education instruction unless you request that he/she be opted out using the opt-out form. You do not need to return the form to the school if you wish for your child to participate in FLE instruction. If you return the opt-out form and later decide you want your child included in FLE instruction, you must notify the principal in writing.

Detailed grade-level program descriptions (lesson objectives and descriptive statements) are available for each grade level at Elementary (K-6) https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-school-academics-k-6/elementary-family-life-education, Middle School (7-8) https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle-school-academics-7-8/family-life-education-fle, and High School (9-12) https://www.fcps.edu/academics/high-school-academics-9-12/family-life-education-fle. In addition, grade level-specific curriculum lessons and media that FCPS has streaming rights for are available online in FCPS 24-7 Parent View https://fcps.blackboard.com/. Due to copyright permissions, we are unable to stream all media titles online. Grade level-specific lessons and media are also available for review at your child’s school. Grade level-specific lessons are available at the Fairfax County Regional Library in the City of Fairfax (this location does not have media).