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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Omaha Public Schools Board has reviewed a proposed set of standards for its health and sex education curriculum.
The board discussed the proposed standards for different grade levels Monday. Proposed updates to the district's human growth and development curriculum include a discussion of gender identity and gender roles starting in the sixth grade, a lesson on sexual orientation and gender identity starting in seventh grade and the inclusion of abortion and emergency contraception in 10th-grade lessons on birth control.
KETV-TV reports that standards that reference abortion and emergency contraception have been removed.
"We looked at a community that was struggling with that and we considered that," said Omaha Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Dr. ReNae Kehrberg. "It was important to us to listen."
School board member Justin Wayne said that "We hire individuals and experts to tell the board what's best for kids, and I haven't heard that really at all today."
Those particular standards may or may not be included in a final recommendation.
The board is expected to vote on a final plan for the district's human growth and development curriculum on Jan. 20.
The Omaha World Herald reports that several board members have said that the curriculum for the school district, which has 52,000 students, will at least be partially updated.
Parents can opt to remove their children from parts or all of the classes teaching the curriculum.
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