Comprehensive Sexual Health Instruction
The district's sexual health education curriculum shall satisfy the following criteria: (Education Code 51931, 51933)
1. Instruction and materials shall be age appropriate.
Age appropriate refers to topics, messages, and teaching methods suitable to particular ages or age groups of children and adolescents, based on developing cognitive, emotional and behavioral capacity typical for the age or age group.
2. All factual information presented shall be medically accurate and objective.
Medically accurate means verified or supported by research conducted in compliance with scientific methods and published in peer-reviewed journals, where appropriate, and recognized as accurate and objective by professional organizations and agencies with expertise in the relevant field, such as the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Public Health Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
3. Instruction shall be made available on an equal basis to a student who is an English learner, consistent with the existing curriculum and alternative options for an English learner student, as otherwise provided in the Education Code.
(cf. 6174 - Education for English Language Learners)
4. Instruction and materials shall be appropriate for use with students of all races, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and students with disabilities.
5. Instruction and materials shall be accessible to students with disabilities, including, but not limited to, the provision of a modified curriculum, materials and instruction in alternative formats, and auxiliary aids.
6. Instruction and materials shall encourage a student to communicate with his/her parents/guardians about human sexuality.
7. Instruction and materials shall teach respect for marriage and committed relationships.
8. Instruction and materials may not teach or promote religious doctrine.
9. Instruction and materials may not reflect or promote bias against any person on the basis of any category protected by Education Code 220.
(cf. 0410 - Nondiscrimination in District Programs and Activities)
(cf. 5145.3 - Nondiscrimination/Harassment)
10. Beginning in grade 7, instruction and materials shall teach that abstinence from sexual intercourse is the only certain way to prevent unintended pregnancy, teach that abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, and provide information about the value of abstinence while also providing medically accurate information on other methods of preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
11. Beginning in grade 7, instruction and materials shall provide information about sexually transmitted diseases. This instruction shall include how sexually transmitted diseases are and are not transmitted, the effectiveness and safety of all federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved methods of reducing the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, and information on local resources for testing and medical care for sexually transmitted diseases.
12. Beginning in grade 7, instruction and materials shall provide information about the effectiveness and safety of all FDA-approved contraceptive methods in preventing pregnancy, including, but not limited to, emergency contraception.
(cf. 5141.25 - Availability of Condoms)
13. Beginning in grade 7, instruction and materials shall provide students with skills for making and implementing responsible decisions about sexuality.
(cf. 5146 - Married/Pregnant/Parenting Students)
14. Beginning in grade 7, instruction and materials shall provide students with information on the law on surrendering physical custody of a minor child 72 hours or younger, pursuant to Health and Safety Code 1255.7 and Penal Code 271.5.
(cf. 6143 - Courses of Study)
HIV/AIDS Prevention Instruction
HIV/AIDS prevention instruction shall be offered at least once in junior high or middle school and once in high school by instructors trained in the appropriate courses. Instruction shall accurately reflect the latest information and recommendations from the United States Surgeon General, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Academy of Sciences and shall include: (Education Code 51934)
1. Information on the nature of HIV/AIDS and its effects on the human body.
2. Information on the manner in which HIV is and is not transmitted, including information on activities that present the highest risk of HIV infection.
3. Discussion of methods to reduce the risk of HIV infection, including:
a. Emphasis that sexual abstinence, monogamy, the avoidance of multiple sexual partners and abstinence from intravenous drug use are the most effective means for HIV/AIDS prevention.
b. Statistics based upon the latest medical information citing the failure and success rates of condoms and other contraceptives in preventing sexually transmitted HIV infection.
c. Information on other methods that may reduce the risk of HIV transmission from intravenous drug use.
4. Discussion of the public health issues associated with HIV/AIDS.
5. Information on local resources for HIV testing and medical care.
6. Development of refusal skills to assist students in overcoming peer pressure and using effective decision-making skills to avoid high-risk activities.
7. Discussion about societal views on HIV/AIDS, including stereotypes and myths regarding persons with HIV/AIDS. This instruction shall emphasize compassion for persons living with HIV/AIDS.
In-Service Training and Use of Consultants
The Superintendent or designee shall cooperatively plan and conduct in-service training for all district personnel who provide HIV/AIDS prevention education, through regional planning, joint powers agreements or contract services. (Education Code 51935)
In developing and providing in-service training, the Superintendent or designee shall cooperate and collaborate with the teachers who provide HIV/AIDS prevention education and with the California Department of Education. (Education Code 51935)
The district shall periodically conduct in-service training to enable district personnel to learn new developments in the scientific understanding of HIV/AIDS. In-service training shall be voluntary for district personnel who have demonstrated expertise or received in-service training from the California Department of Education or federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Education Code 51935)
The Superintendent or designee may expand HIV/AIDS in-service training to cover the topic of comprehensive sexual health education for district personnel teaching sexual health education to learn new developments in the scientific understanding of sexual health. (Education Code 51935)
The Superintendent or designee may contract with outside consultants with expertise in comprehensive sexual health or HIV/AIDS prevention education, including those who have developed multilingual curricula or curricula accessible to persons with disabilities, to deliver the instruction or to provide training for district personnel. (Education Code 51936)
Regulation PETALUMA CITY SCHOOLS
approved: February 11, 2003 Petaluma, California
amended: April 12, 2005