The Board of Trustees recognizes that the purpose of the District's sexual health and HIV/AIDS prevention instruction is to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to protect them from unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases and to encourage students to develop healthy attitudes concerning adolescent growth and development, body image, gender roles, sexual orientation, dating, marriage, and family. The Board therefore desires to provide a well-planned sequence of instruction on comprehensive sexual health and HIV/AIDS prevention.
(cf. 5030 - Student Wellness)
(cf. 6142.8 - Comprehensive Health Education)
The District's curriculum shall be aligned with the state's content standards, based on medically accurate and factual information, and designed to teach students to make healthy choices and reduce high-risk behaviors. The District's program shall comply with the requirements of law, Board policy, and administrative regulation and shall respect the rights of parents/guardians to supervise their children's education on these subjects and to impart values regarding human sexuality to their children.
(cf. 5141.22 - Infectious Diseases)
(cf. 5141.25 - Availability of Condoms)
(cf. 5146 - Married/Pregnant/Parenting Students)
(cf. 6142.8 - Comprehensive Health Education)
(cf. 6143 - Courses of Study)
Parent/Guardian Notification and Excuse
At the beginning of each school year, or at the time of a student's enrollment, parents/guardians shall be notified about instruction in comprehensive sexual health education and HIV/AIDS prevention education, as well as research on student health behaviors and risks, planned for the coming year. The notice shall advise parents/guardians: (Education Code 48980, 51938)
1. That written and audiovisual educational materials to be used in comprehensive sexual health and HIV/AIDS prevention education are available for inspection
2. That parents/guardians may request in writing that their child not receive comprehensive sexual health or HIV/AIDS prevention education
3. That parents/guardians have a right to request a copy of Education Code 51930-51939
4. Whether the comprehensive sexual health or HIV/AIDS prevention education will be taught by district personnel or outside consultants
If the district chooses to use outside consultants or to hold an assembly with guest speakers to teach the comprehensive sexual health or HIV/AIDS prevention education, the notification shall include: (Education Code 51938)
a. The date of the instruction
b. The name of the organization or affiliation of each guest speaker
c. Information stating the right of the parent/guardian to request a copy of Education Code 51933-51934
If the arrangements for instruction by outside consultants or guest speakers are made after the beginning of the school year, the District shall notify parents/guardians by mail or another commonly used method of notification no fewer than 14 days before the instruction is given. (Education Code 51938)
(cf. 5145.6 - Parental Notifications)
The District may administer to students in grades 7-12 anonymous, voluntary, and confidential research and evaluation instruments, including tests and surveys, containing age-appropriate questions about their attitudes or practices relating to sex. Prior to administering such a research and evaluation instrument, parents/guardians shall be provided written notice of the administration. Parents/guardians shall be given an opportunity to review the research instrument and to request in writing that their child not participate. (Education Code 51938, 51939)
Upon written request, a parent/guardian may excuse his/her child from participating in comprehensive sexual health or HIV/AIDS prevention education or from participating in questionnaires or surveys regarding health behaviors and risks. Students so excused by their parents/guardians shall be given an alternative educational activity. (Education Code 51240, 51939)
A student shall not be subject to disciplinary action, academic penalty, or other sanction if the student's parent/guardian declines to permit the student to receive the instruction. (Education Code 51939)
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
220 Prohibition of discrimination
48980 Notice at beginning of term
51202 Instruction in personal and public health and safety
51210.8 Health education curriculum
51240 Excuse from instruction due to religious beliefs
51513 Materials containing questions about beliefs or practices
51930-51939 Comprehensive Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Prevention Education Act
HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
1255.7 Parents surrendering physical custody of a baby
PENAL CODE
243.4 Sexual battery
261.5 Unlawful sexual intercourse
271.5 Parents voluntarily surrendering custody of a baby
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 20
1232h Protection of student rights
7906 Sex education
Management Resources:
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PUBLICATIONS
Health Education Content Standards for California Public Schools, Kindergarten Through Grade 12, 2008
Health Framework for California Public Schools: Kindergarten through Grade 12, 2003
WEB SITES
CSBA: http://www.csba.rog
American Academy of Pediatrics: http://www.aap.org
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: http://www.acog.org
American Public Health Association: http://www.apha.org
California Department of Education, Sex Education and HIV/STD Instruction: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/se
California Department of Public Health: http://www.cdph.ca.gov
California Healthy Kids Resource Center: http://www.californiahealthykids.org
California Safe Schools Coalition: http://www.casafeschools.org
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov
National Academy of Sciences: http://www.nationalacademies.org
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: http://www.fda.gov
Policy CARLSBAD UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: July 26, 2006 Carlsbad, California
revised: December 10, 2008