Dating violence, family violence, child abuse and sex trafficking can be difficult for parents to discuss. Texas Senate Bill 9, which was passed in 2021, allows parents to decide whether their children should learn about those topics in school. Under SB9 all Texas schools are required to cover the controversial subjects, but if a parent does not actively opt-in to the program, their student will not be taught the curriculum.
Although the state mandates the subjects be presented, how that is to be accomplished is in the hands of individual districts. In both Taylor and Hutto, The School Health Advisory Council made recommendations for curriculum providers, and the school board adopted the materials and approved the specific content of the instruction. In both cases, district committees pored over available materials to find the programs they felt best suited their communities.
Such topics can prove challenging for students and teachers alike. Sensitivity to content that can be potentially triggering for abuse victims or their family members plays a role in how the subject is taught, and at what ages the schools decide to introduce specific subjects.
According to Taylor ISD Director of Guidance and Counseling Rachelle Fink, the Taylor elementary school curriculum focuses on topics including bullying prevention, healthy relationships, managing emotions and ways to talk to adults about unsafe environments. Middle school curriculum builds on that with lessons about positive peer relations, recognizing unhealthy dating relationships and identifying potential sex trafficking probes. At the high school level, the curriculum delivers lessons on teen dating violence and sex trafficking in a safe and supportive manner for students. “We will be providing the instruction through teachers and school counselors. Most of the lessons are video/module based so teachers are more facilitators,” said Tim Crow, Taylor ISD communications and community liaison.
Hutto ISD has chosen a different method, contracting with Williamson County Children’s Advocacy Center to present the materials as teachers and counselors watch and support the students.
“A lot of this is material the district was already presenting, except for the human trafficking element,” said Jennifer Ashman-Porter, Hutto ISD director of student services and PEIMS (Public Education Information Management System). “In kindergarten through eighth grade, the curriculum focuses on personal safety and saying no to things that make students uncomfortable. Then in grades nine through 12 they cover all the topics including the sex trafficking module. They also cover digital safety starting in middle school. It will cover all the topics that are important for kids to hear about that are also a part of SB9.”
Tiffany Sturman is the development director for Williamson County Children’s Advocacy Center. The WCCAC works with abuse victims and Sturman has years of experience having difficult conversations with children and parents. She believes it’s important to start teaching body safety to children at a young age.
“Abuse does not discriminate against age, gender, ethnicity or income level, and most young children in cases of abuse don’t even know that a crime is happening to their body. It’s important that they know they have the right to say no, be assertive, get away when they can and tell a trusted adult,” Sturman said. “It’s important they know it isn’t their fault. If it might have happened already, they need to know that they can tell a trusted adult so the healing process can begin.”
Tori Algiere, interim community engagement director at WCCAC, agrees that it is a serious conversation to have.
“Nobody wants to believe these things are going to happen to a kid in their sphere of influence. When you have a child, they don’t give you a book telling you how to have these conversations and not a lot of organizations have been in this space to be a resource to help deal with these topics.”
She said part of the lesson is to help the children realize who are trusted adults in their lives.
“We understand that sometimes kids go to those people, and the adults don’t know what to do. They don’t know how to have the conversation and how to make sure the child is safe, and the community is safe,” Algiere said. “That’s why we do parent conversation night as well, so the parents can know how to have those conversations themselves.”
Ashman-Porter said many Hutto parents already completed the form for opting-in as part of the school registration process. Parents who haven’t can find more information and choose an option on the Hutto ISD Skyward Family Access portal.
“We’re required to send parents information at least 14 days in advance of the training,” she said. “We’ll make sure parents have the opportunity to come find out more and then they’ll be able to change their minds about whether to opt-in or optout. Our parents will know when it’s going to happen on their child’s campus.”
The next Hutto community meeting is scheduled for parents of students in grades nine through 12 will be Nov. 29 at 6 p.m. in the Hutto ISD Board Room.
Taylor ISD parents will be notified about lessons to be taught and be able to opt-in approximately one month before the first lesson, which varies by grade level, according to Fink. She said there will be an opportunity for parents to preview the content and she is planning a community event in the winter or spring for parental education on healthy relationships and human trafficking.
