iCHAMPSS 2.0 Free Resources Now Available
Attention South Texas K12 Schools!
iCHAMPSS 2.0 Free Resources Now Available
As the program manager of Texas is Ready, a program of Healthy Futures of Texas, I’m excited to share news of a research study, in partnership with UTHealth Houston. The study aims to support K-12 public schools in adopting evidence-based sexual health education programs that comply with Texas’ state policies. Participation is free, and compensation is provided. Below is more information about the study.
iCHAMPSS, A Free Online Tool for School Districts
UTHealth Houston and Healthy Futures of Texas have collaborated for many years on projects related to health education and teen pregnancy prevention. One of those projects is iCHAMPSS: “Choosing and Maintaining Effective Programs for Sex Education in Schools.” It is a free, online tool developed by UTHealth Houston to help schools adopt and maintain sexual health education programs. The tool features more than 60 resources, including guides, tips, and templates, to simplify the process for schools.
Many partners and public schools face challenges when navigating health education laws and the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) curriculum standards. In response to these challenges and the 2020 TEKS updates, we partnered with UTHealth Houston to update the iCHAMPSS tools. The result is iCHAMPSS 2.0: a more robust, policy-aligned resource designed to meet the real-world needs of K-12 public schools in Texas.
Who can participate in the study?
Several counties in South Texas have among the highest teen birth rates in the state.
The study invites K-12 public schools in Texas Education Service Centers (ESC) regions 1 and 2 (RGV and Corpus Christi) and 20 (San Antonio region) to participate with the hope that increased access to sexual health resources will combat the high teen birth rates in those regions.
The Rio Grande Valley has a teen birth rate of 28.8 per 1,000. This is significantly higher than the Texas average of 19.4 per 1,000 and the national average of 13.1 per 1,000. ESC region 20, which includes San Antonio and its surrounding counties, also reports teen birth rates above the national level.
By focusing on ESCs 1, 2, and 20, efforts can be concentrated where data shows the greatest need and potential for impact.
How does the study work?
School districts and charters in the study will start using iCHAMPSS in either the Fall or Spring semester of the 2025-2026 or 2026-2027 school year. A District Coordinator, selected by the school district or charter, will:
- Complete two confidential surveys: one at the start of the year and a follow-up survey at the end of each semester. Each survey will take about 15-20 minutes to complete and can be done on any device with internet access.
- Complete a yearly virtual interview, which will take 30-40 minutes.
- Compensation of $25 will be provided for completing each survey and interviews.
I’m sure you’re wondering, “What are the benefits for K-12 public schools?
”iCHAMPSS helps school districts and charter schools simplify the process of selecting and adopting sexual health education programs, providing necessary resources, such as opt-in forms, that districts can use and customize for their own needs. Districts that participate in the study also receive personalized guidance, including regular check-ins with the research team to help navigate any challenges.
This new study builds upon UTHealth Houston’s previous work with K-12 public schools across Texas. In fact, iCHAMPSS users from eight Texas ISDs reported overwhelmingly positive experiences: 100% of participants said they liked the overall iCHAMPSS website and resources “a lot.” And 89% found the platform “very easy” to use.
Sex education is the most effective prevention strategy to address unintended teen pregnancy. By helping schools implement proven programs, iCHAMPSS gives students the skills and knowledge to make informed decisions, delay sexual activity, and prevent unintended pregnancies.
Interested? To learn more about the study, contact Ana Belén Zelaya, HFTX & Texas is Ready Program Manager, at az*****@***************tx.org.
