Teaching, Learning & Curriculum
The Washington State Learning Standards provide essential academic learning targets for subjects taught in Ephrata Schools. The Teaching & Learning Department provides oversight of the curriculum renewal process and ensures new materials align with state standards.
Curriculum
Sexual Health
What is Included in the New, “Comprehensive Sexual Health Education Bill?
Senate Bill (ESSB) 5395 requires public schools in Washington to teach “Comprehensive Sexual Health Education” by 2022 to students in grades K-12. Instruction is to be age appropriate and consistent with guidelines deemed medically and scientifically accurate by the state Department of Health and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Weren’t Ephrata Schools Teaching Sexual Health Prior to this Bill?
Yes, Ephrata was already providing this training. The new legislation ensures that all school districts in the state are providing sexual health education.
Does Anything Change with the Passage of this Law?
The new requirements are not that different from what Ephrata Schools had in place. In grades 4-12, instruction must be consistent with Health Education K-12 Learning Standards, must use language and strategies that recognize all members of protected classes, and must include age-appropriate, medically/scientifically, inclusive information about:
- The physiological, psychological, and sociological developmental processes experienced by an individual;
- Abstinence and other methods of preventing unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases;
- Health care and prevention resources;
- The development of intrapersonal and interpersonal skills to communicate, respectfully and effectively, to reduce health risks and choose healthy behaviors and relationships based on mutual respect and affection, and free from violence, coercion, and intimidation;
- The development of meaningful relationships and avoidance of exploitative relationships;
- Understanding the influences of family, peers, community, and the media throughout life on healthy sexual relationships;
- Affirmative consent and recognizing and responding safely and effectively when violence or a risk of violence is or may be present, with strategies that include bystander training.
The legislation did require the District to formalize the process through a School Board adopted policy and curriculum and instructional materials.
How Did Ephrata Meet the Requirements of the New Law?
The Ephrata School District established an advisory group that included parents, health education teachers, district nurses, counselors, principals and two school board members. The group studied information from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, draft lessons and curriculum materials and compared that information to the District’s current materials and teaching methods. In May 2021, the School Board approved an updated policy and curriculum and instructional materials which meets the requirements of the new law.
What is Taught in Sexual Education Classes?
Frequency, duration and instruction vary based on grade level:
Grades K-3 |
Focus on social-emotional learning to help kids understand personal boundaries, manage emotions, empathize with others and differentiate between appropriate or inappropriate touching. |
Grades 4-5 |
Focus on human growth and development, healthy relationships, HIV/AIDs prevention instruction. |
Grades 6+ |
Abstinence is taught as is “affirmative consent,” or the need for clear and voluntary permission to engage in sexual or other activity. Reproductive systems, physiological and developmental processes are taught as well as healthcare and prevention resources. |
The new law also remains inclusive of “protected groups” of students and calls for “bystander training,” or teaching students how to safely intervene when they see bullying, sexual harassment or unwanted sexual touching.
Do All Students Have to Take Sexual Health Classes?
Not if their parents/guardians object. The new law specifies that school districts must inform parents in advance when sexual health instruction will be taught. Parents can review curriculum materials in advance and request that their children be excused from part or all of the instruction.
Where Can I Go to Review the Curriculum:
7-12 Sexual Health Curriculum Overview Video
Opt Out Of Sexual Health Education
Parents/Guardians that wish to Opt Out of Sexual Health Education, please click on the button below.
ELA
ELA |
Name of Curriculum |
Year Adopted |
Adopted Curriculum |
Publisher & © |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kinder |
Read Well |
2008 |
Prelude Magazines A-C |
Read Well |
First |
Wonders |
2017-2018 |
|
McGraw Hill 2017 |
Second |
Wonders |
2017-2018 |
|
McGraw Hill 2017 |
Third |
Wonders |
2017-2018 |
|
McGraw Hill 2017 |
Fourth |
Wonders |
2017-2018 |
|
McGraw Hill 2017 |
Fifth |
Wonders |
2017-2018 |
|
McGraw Hill 2017 |
Sixth |
Language of Literature |
2008 |
|
McDougal Littell 2006 |
Seventh |
Language of Literature |
2008 |
Teacher resources |
McDougal Littell 2006 |
Eighth |
Engage NY ELA |
2018-2019 |
Unit selections made by ELA team |
Expeditionary Learning 2013 |
Ninth |
Language of Literature |
2010 |
Teacher Bundles includes online resources |
McDougal Littell 2008 |
Tenth |
Language of Literature |
2010 |
Teacher Bundles includes online resources |
McDougal Littell 2008 |
Eleventh |
Language of Literature |
2010 |
Teacher Bundles includes online resources |
McDougal Littell 2008 |
Twelfth |
Language of Literature |
2010 |
Teacher Bundles includes online resources |
McDougal Littell 2008 |
Math
Math |
Name of Curriculum |
Year Adopted |
Adopted Curriculum |
Publisher & © |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kinder |
Engage New York |
2019-2020 |
Teacher materials and resources |
Eureka Math |
First |
Engage New York |
2019-2020 |
Teacher materials and resources Students consumables |
Eureka Math |
Second |
Engage New York |
2019-2020 |
Teacher materials and resources Students consumables |
Eureka Math |
Third |
Engage New York |
2019-2020 |
Teacher materials and resources Students consumables |
Eureka Math |
Fourth |
Engage New York |
2019-2020 |
Teacher materials and resources Students consumables |
Eureka Math |
Fifth |
Engage New York |
2019-2020 |
Teacher materials and resources Students consumables |
Eureka Math |
Sixth |
Engage New York |
2019-2020 |
Teacher materials and resources Students consumables |
Eureka Math |
Seventh |
Math Connects |
2011-2012 |
Course 2 Teacher materials and resources, including online resources Student texts w/online |
McGraw Hill 2012 |
Eighth |
Math Connects |
2011-2012 |
Course 3 Teacher materials and resources, including online resources Student texts w/online |
McGraw Hill 2012 |
Eighth |
Algebra |
2011-2012 |
Teacher materials and resources Student texts |
Holt McDougal 2011 |
Ninth |
Algebra |
2011-2012 |
Teacher materials and resources Student texts |
Holt McDougal 2011 |
Ninth & Tenth |
Geometry |
2011-2012 |
Teacher materials and resources Student texts |
Holt McDougal 2011 |
Tenth & Eleventh |
Advanced Algebra (Alg.2) |
2011-2012 |
Teacher materials and resources Student texts |
Holt McDougal 2011 |
Eleventh & Twelfth |
Algebra III |
|||
Tenth, Eleventh & Twelfth |
Pre-Calculus |
2011-2012 |
Teacher materials and resources Student texts |
McGraw Hill 2011 |
Eleventh & Twelfth |
College Pre-Calculus |
2016-2017 |
Student materials |
BBCC 2016 |
Social Studies/History
Social Studies/History |
Name of Curriculum |
Year Adopted |
Adopted Curriculum |
Publisher & © |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kinder |
Learning About Myself and My Classroom |
2013-2014 |
Teacher created materials: GLAD Units & Read Well Students – teacher created materials |
Read Well GLAD |
First |
Families in Our Community and Other Places |
2013-2014 |
Teacher created materials: GLAD Units Students – teacher created materials |
Family Themed books, Continents book series |
Second |
SSA! My Community |
2013-2014 |
Teacher materials and resources Student texts and consumable workbooks |
TCI 2010 |
Third |
SSA! Our Community and Beyond SSA! Regions of Our Country |
2013-2014 |
Teacher materials and resources Student texts and consumable workbooks |
TCI 2010 |
Fourth |
Washington Connections Studies Weekly |
2013-2014 |
Teacher materials and resources Student texts and consumable workbooks Current articles about WA State |
Educational Maps & Globes LLC Kurt Fullmer 2008 American Legacy Publishing |
Fifth |
SSA! America’s Past |
2013-2014 |
Teacher materials and resources Student texts and consumable workbooks |
TCI 2010 |
Sixth |
HA! The Ancient World |
2013-2014 |
Teacher materials and resources Student texts and consumable workbooks |
TCI 2011 |
Seventh |
PNW Discovering Our Past: History of the Worlds |
2018-2019 2017-2018 |
Teacher Bundles includes online resources Student materials includes online materials |
Gibbs Smith McGraw Hill 2017 |
Eighth |
Discovering Our Past: History of the United States |
2017-2018 |
Teacher Bundles includes online resources Student materials includes online materials |
McGraw Hill 2017 |
Ninth |
GA! People, Politics, and You |
2012-2013 |
Teacher Bundle w/online Student texts and online |
TCI 2014 |
Tenth |
World History |
2018-2019 |
Teacher bundle w/online Student texts and online
|
TCI 2020 |
Eleventh |
HA! Pursuing American Ideals |
2016-2017 |
Teacher bundle w/online Student texts and online |
TCI 2013 |
Twelfth |
Econ Alive! Power to Choose |
2011-2012 |
Teacher Bundle w/online Student texts and online |
TCI 2010 |
Science
Science |
Name of Curriculum |
Year Adopted |
Adopted Curriculum |
Publisher & © |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kinder |
LASER Kits |
2-3 kits per year |
Carolina & Smithsonian |
|
First |
LASER Kits |
2-3 kits per year |
All kits come from NCESD |
|
Second |
LASER Kits |
2-3 kits per year |
||
Third |
LASER Kits |
2-3 kits per year |
||
Fourth |
LASER Kits |
2-3 kits per year |
||
Fifth |
LASER Kits |
2-3 kits per year |
||
Sixth |
LASER Kits |
2-3 kits per year |
||
Seventh |
Course 1-3 |
2004-2005 |
TE & SE editions |
McDougall Little 2005 |
Eighth |
Course 1-3 |
2004-2005 |
TE & SE editions |
McDougal Little 2005 |
Ninth |
BSCS Integrated Science Course 1 |
2014-2015 |
Student text w/online |
Kendall Hunt |
Tenth |
BSCS Integrated Science Course 2 |
2014-2015 |
Student text w/online |
Kendall Hunt |
Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth |
Chemistry |
2017-2018 |
Student print text + 6yr online |
Kendall Hunt 2009 |
Eleventh & Twelfth |
Physics |
2017-2018 |
Student edition w/digital access |
Pearson 2015 |
Eleventh & Twelfth |
Advanced Biology |
2015-2016 |
||
Ag Science |
2013-2014 |
Cengage |