The following are the foundational values of the I Decide For Me curriculum:

We will be directive:

• Presenting a reasonable approach – not emotionally charged or sensational
• Emphasizing every person is valuable, worth protecting, and worth respecting
• Directing to the healthiest/best lifestyle choices
• Encouraging sexual integrity (abstinence until marriage)
• Defining abstinence as the restraint from all sexual activity
• Addressing consent must accompany sexual activity
• Teaching that a sex drive is healthy, normal, and controllable
• Presenting a character-based approach, which teaches abstinence until marriage as the behavior standard
• Teaching that sexual activity can be positive and healthy within marriage
• Encouraging secondary abstinence
• Aiding in the development of self-respect, character, and integrity

We will encourage guidance and mentorship:

• Pointing students toward trusted, Go-To adults for discussions and involvement
• Empowering families and students to set boundaries both personally and within relationships
• Seeking to establish a foundation of responsibility and accountability

We will teach from a Whole Person Perspective:

• Emphasizing a whole-person approach – physical, intellectual, social, emotional, and ethical/spiritual
• Teaching that healthy decisions have healthy outcomes holistically
• Stressing freedoms derived from saying “No”
• Empowering students towards dignity and ethical behaviors
• Using a comprehensive, holistic health model that uses facts, data, and real-life examples

We will be Medically Accurate:

• Teaching age-appropriate material
• Presenting fact-based, not fear-based, material
• Teaching the difference between risk avoidance and risk reduction
• Providing as-current data as possible from diverse resources
• Redefining slang terms by using more accurate language
• Helping students to discern the unhealthy messages from our media and culture, and the motivation behind such messages