News Release: High Scores - Puberty Curriculum

Puberty Curriculum Received Highest Scores in State of Washington

Puberty: The Wonder Years scores highest out of 12 different curricula reviewed

September 12, 2022, Grand Rapids, MI – Puberty: The Wonder Years – a Michigan-produced puberty curriculum in use throughout the country – recently received the highest scores from education curriculum reviewers in Washington state when they reviewed 12 different national curricula for puberty and sexual health.

“The state of Washington is known for having one of the most rigorous review processes for sex education curricula in the country,” said Wendy Sellers, owner and creator of Puberty: the Wonder Years. “We are thrilled that Puberty: The Wonder Years was recognized by the reviewers as a highly recommended resource for teachers.”

The Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and Washington State Department of Health conducts annual reviews of sexual health curricula. The 2022 review involved 23 reviewers who used four updated review instruments: accuracy analysis, curriculum design, academic learning standards, and overall comments.

12 full curricula were in the 2022 review. Of those curricula, 7 included grades 4, 5, and/or 6.

Of the 12 curricula reviewed, Puberty: The Wonder Years 2021 edition received the highest rating in the following categories and subcategories (4.0 is highest score possible):

Overall Rating: 3.6; the next highest score was 3.5.
Academic Standards, Health Ed Standards: 3.8; the next highest score was 3.5
Learning Objectives: 4.0; the next highest score was 3.8
Instructional Strategies & Materials: 3.6; tied with two other curricula
Teaching Health Skills: 3.8; tied with one other curriculum
Student Assessment: 3.7; next highest score was 3.3
Promoting Healthy Norms: 3.7; next highest score was 3.6

“The valuable feedback provided by the reviewers has been used to make improvements to the curriculum. Since Puberty: The Wonder Years 2021 edition is in a digital format, these updates can be made available to educators almost immediately,” shared Sellers.

Currently, more than 10 schools in Washington are teaching Puberty: The Wonder Years. In addition the curriculum is being taught in 40 states and Washington DC, and 8 countries worldwide.

“Puberty: The Wonder Years is a high quality, comprehensive sexual health education program. It’s research-based and utilizes best practices in sexual health instruction,” said Kai Kunkel, the social emotional learning project-program manager at Seattle Public Schools. “Students’, teachers’, and families’ comfort and confidence with sexual health education would increase with the use of this program and I would recommend it.”