MLSD board passes resolution on sex-ed

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District Board passed resolution 2026-02 about sexual education at the Oct. 2 meeting. The resolution supports parents’ and guardians' ability to opt their children out of all sexual health education and encourages the district to teach biology and science instead of ideology or political agendas.  

“I have had a couple of interactions within the public in the last few months over recent updates to state laws concerning sex ed within our state and community members brought it to my attention, asking what the board stance on it was,” Board Chair Kirryn Jensen said at the meeting. “Because I can't speak for the entirety of the board, I decided to put my thoughts on paper, essentially in a resolution, and bring it to the board for consideration. These are my thoughts, and I truly believe that the majority of our community agrees.” 

The resolution passed with a 4-1 vote, with board member Ryan Coulston voting no. He said he supports the resolution but was not given enough time to do proper research.  

“I agree with everything that is on there,” Coulston said. “I just disagree with the shortness of the time frame of being able to review it myself.”  

Senate Bill 5395 

One of the most recent pieces of legislation that has changed sexual education in Washington public schools is Senate Bill 5395, which passed the legislature in 2020. The bill required all public schools to provide comprehensive sexual health education to all students by the 2022-23 school year, including kindergartners.  

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction clarified in a statement that the added instruction for kindergarteners will be social and emotional learning.  

“Social and emotional learning is a process of building awareness and skills in managing emotions, setting goals, establishing relationships, and making responsible decisions that support success in school and in life. No sexuality content or curriculum is required for kindergarten through grade 3,” reads the OSPI statement.  

OSPI said the bill does not prevent parents or guardians from opting their students out of sexual education.  

“The new law strengthens the existing provision by requiring districts to honor parent/guardian requests,” reads the statement.  

Age-appropriateness, according to OSPI, is based on guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics. However, the guidelines on when and how topics are taught are up to the individual school district.  

Resolution 2026-02 

Jensen's resolution has five pieces. First, it affirms the district’s belief that sexual education should be based on biology and science instead of ideology or political agendas.  

“Certain elements extend beyond biological and scientific instruction and enter into ideas of ideology and politics the Board believes are not appropriate for the classroom,” reads the resolution.  

Second, it supports parents and guardians in opting out of sexual education. Third, it commits to transparency, saying the district will provide all materials related to sexual health education for parent and guardian review.  

OSPI said districts should already be notifying parents and guardians about planned instruction and what curriculum will be used.  

“They may review their district’s curriculum at any time. Parents and guardians are critical partners in their children’s sexual health education, and several comprehensive curricula include family homework assignments for every lesson to encourage and foster family-based values discussions as they pertain to sexual health,” reads an OSPI statement.  

Fourth, the resolution asks the district to provide communication to families concerning their opt-out rights and the process of exercising those rights. Finally, it encourages collaboration between the district, families, community and stakeholders in shaping the curriculum decisions to fit community values.  

“This is an opportunity for the board to voice our concern with the state trying to override parents' rights. It's happened time and time again in Washington state; we are constantly bombarded by these new laws and rules that are trying to dictate how we raise our kids,” Jensen said. “I just felt that we needed to make a stand.”  

    Moses Lake School Board member Ryan Coulston voted no at the Oct. 2 meeting on 2026-02, the sex education resolution. He said he agreed with the content of the resolution, but he was not given enough time to properly review it.