Planning Personal Safety Lessons for 2026–2027
Are you responsible for planning faith formation or sacramental preparation lessons at your parish? Do you plan curriculum for your Catholic school?
It is a requirement of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and this Archdiocese, that parishes and schools implement personal safety instruction for children in faith formation programs or who attend Catholic school.
Archbishop Hebda’s Promulgation Letters containing the approved providers for Personal Safety Lesson curriculum for the 2026-2027 program year have been released!
PSL Requirements & Guides
- Promulgation Letters of Approved Curriculum for 2026-2027 – ENGLISH & SPANISH
- Developing Personal Safety Lessons & Guidelines
- Options for Supplemental Curriculum – MUST be used in addition to an approved curriculum
*Adaptations may be made to accommodate the needs of a particular community or the developmental needs of a child. Please contact your Safe Environment Coordinator & Program Liaison for guidance in these instances
PSL Resources to Support Your Planning
As you plan for the coming program year, please collaborate with your Safe Environment Coordinator to ensure:
- Your selected lesson content meets the 2026–2027 requirements.
- Student attendance and absences are recorded and stored according to parish or school retention policies for the Spring Audit Report.
- Any adaptations needed for your community or a child’s developmental needs are appropriate and meet the guidelines.
Faith-based and relevant content:
Approved PSL options, such as Circle of Grace and VIRTUS Empowering God’s Children®, incorporate Catholic teaching and the dignity of every person while addressing real-life issues youth encounter today—including healthy relationships, social media, technology, and personal boundaries. These resources help ensure personal safety education is grounded in faith and meaningful to the lived experiences of today’s youth.
Outside presenters and vendors:
The Archdiocese maintains a list of supplemental PSL vendors and resources to help reduce the burden on catechists and school staff. Approved curriculum must be used in addition to an any elective supplemental curriculum.
PSL attendance tracking:
Student attendance at lessons need to be recorded and provided to your SEC for the Spring Audit Report. Absences cannot exceed 10% of students enrolled. VIRTUS includes a feature for recording children’s program training, and a PSL Tracking Worksheet is also available. Contact your Program Liaison if you need assistance accessing these.
PSL Planning Tips from Parish & School Safe Environment Teams
- Schedule PSLs early in the program year when attendance is highest. Early lessons also allow PSL concepts and language to be reinforced throughout the year.
- Offer ongoing make-up opportunities so every student has the opportunity to participate and the site can work toward the 90% attendance requirement.
- Support teachers with a small thank-you gesture, such as treats in the teachers’ lounge.
- Consider at-home make-up lessons with parent verification that the content was reviewed with their child(ren).
Need help? Contact your Program Liaison for assistance accessing resources or planning your PSLs.
Thank you for your continued commitment to safeguarding our youth, vulnerable adults, and one another.
