Rigorous Evaluation of High School FLASH

High School FLASH is a 15-session comprehensive sexual health curriculum designed for classroom settings in grades 9 to 12. The basis of High School FLASH is a public health approach to behavior change. The primary strategy used in the FLASH curriculum for preventing teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and sexual violence is to address student behaviors and attitudes. To this end, FLASH uses a harm reduction and behavior change framework, implements best practices as outlined in the research on effective programs, addresses risk and protective factors for program goals, and rests on the theory of planned behavior. The instructional approach of High School FLASH employs key concepts in every lesson, which enables teachers to hone in on the risk and protective factors outlined in the curriculum logic model. The curriculum covers the following topics: reproductive system, pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity, healthy relationships, coercion and consent, online safety, abstinence, birth control, preventing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other STDs, condoms, STD testing, communicating and decision making, and improving school health. The curriculum aligns with national health education standards.