As well as nutrition, drugs and alcohol, teen dating and a host of other topics that could be part of the Omaha Public Schools’ Parents and other community members are invited to an April 7 forum to discuss potential changes and weigh in on what should be included in the new curriculum and what should be left out.coming update of its Human Growth and Development course curriculum.

Parents and other community members are invited to an April 7 forum to discuss potential changes and weigh in on what should be included in the new curriculum and what should be left out.

The curriculum was last updated more than 20 years ago.

OPS has been conducting random phone polls of parents to get their input on the current material covered in the health and sex education classes and whether they’d support the teaching about certain topics, including birth control methods, abortion, sexual orientation, teen pregnancy and drug and alcohol prevention.

The results of those surveys will be shared at the April meeting.

OPS already teaches comprehensive sex ed, which covers abstinence as well as birth control methods, but classes do not address abortion, masturbation or sexual orientation.

Currently, students in grades four, five and six get four lessons each year taught by a school nurse, while seventh- and eighth-graders take a course called Human Growth and Development for one quarter and high school sophomores enroll in a semester-long class.

Parents can opt their kids out of the classes entirely.

OPS plans to implement the new curriculum next school year.

The April 7 meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. and take place in the Teacher Administrative Center at 30th and Cuming Streets.

Contact the writer: 402-444-1210, erin.duffy@owh.com