Evaluation of Adolescent Health Goals

Note: Statistics available by clicking here and downloading the .pdf (288k)

In June 2004 state law changed for districts choosing to teach Sex Education.  One of the new requirements of districts is to evaluate, measure, and report the attainment of program goals and objectives at least once every two years.  The minimum requirement is to evaluate goals at one grade level K-12 in the district.  The Human Sexuality Advisory Board (HSAB) recommended to the Grosse Pointe Board of Education that an evaluation take place at two grade levels: grade 5 at the elementary level, and grade 8 at the middle school level.  These grades were chosen because they are the exit grades for students before moving on to middle or high school. 

After Board adoption in March 2006, the new Adolescent Health Education curriculum was taught in grades 4-8 during the spring at all of our elementary and middles schools.  Attached are the results of the twelve-question multiple choice pre and post tests that were used in grades 5 and 8.  In addition, students were also asked five attitudinal questions on pre- and post-tests.

The data indicate the following:

•  The district had extremely high opt-in rate at all grade levels and schools.

•  Overall, there were clear gains in student learning at both levels.

•  There was clear growth in healthy attitudes at both levels.

•  There appears to be an anomaly in the grade 5 test (question #7) which asks students at which stage of development one becomes physically able to have children.   Many students answered "adulthood" rather than "puberty."   It is possible that, due to the emphasis on abstinence in the curriculum, students may have answered in terms of when one should have children rather than when one could have children

•  One or two other questions may have been confusing and the wording of the questions will be reexamined.

As with all test data, teachers will analyze the results to improve instructional delivery.

The results of the opt-in rates, the test results, the list of what students indicated that they learned, and the attitudinal questions and results will be published on the district's website.   The factual tests will not be placed on the website to protect the integrity of the testing process.

Additional information that is being compiled includes:

•  A list of student questions answered and not answered by grade level

•  A teacher evaluation of the new curriculum

The above information will be shared with the Human Sexuality Advisory Board at their first meeting in October.