Harrisonburg City Public Schools offers Healthy Life Skills Instruction in accordance with the plan from the Virginia Board of Education and the Virginia Department of Education based on the Code of Virginia §22.1-207, titled Family Life Education.

The Family Life Education curriculum is overseen by the HCPS Health Advisory Board. The Healthy Life Skills (HLS) subcommittee was formed out of the Health Advisory Board and expanded to include staff, HCPS parents, community members, and students. The HLS committee started a conversation which acknowledged the gaps in the education being presented to students and addressed the stigma attached to the title of Family Life Education.

The new title of Healthy Life Skills was created to encompass additional topics such as mental health and overall wellbeing. This instruction continues to be based on the standards set forth by the Virginia Department of Education.