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Sexuality Education

I.09 Teaching About Controversial or Sensitive Issues

The Board of Education encourages the objective study of controversial issues. Provisions will be made for review of student or parent objections to presentations or to print or multi-media instructional materials in accordance with Board Policy K.01 and the Student Behavior Handbook.

Board Policy Cross Ref.: A. K.01 Community Involvement B. I.03 Treatment of Religious Issues, and the Student Behavior Handbook NSBA/NEPN Classification: IMB Approved: September 7, 1983  Revised: January 17, 1990  Revised: February 20, 1996  Revised: April 2001

From Student Handbook: CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES • Students shall have the right to encounter diverse points of view. • Students shall have opportunities to hear speakers and view presentations representing a wide range of views in classes, clubs and assemblies under guidelines established by the school district.

Human Sexuality and AIDS Instructional Material – Procedural Directive

Public Education Department Regulation 6.12.3.9 requires each elementary, middle and high school to provide instruction about AIDS and related issues. This instruction includes an understanding of HIV disease and how it is transmitted; risk reduction methods, stressing abstinence; refusal skills; and information regarding resources for appropriate medical care. The regulation requires the involvement of parents, staff, and students in the development of policies and the review of instructional materials. APS designates grade five, middle school and high school required health classes as the means to deliver this instruction to students.

Guidelines Public Education Department Regulation 6.12.3.10 requires the involvement of parents, staff; and students in the review of instructional materials used to deliver this content. Instructional content of lessons about human sexuality and AIDS (including all audio visual and other materials to be used), must be planned and approved by a school committee every other year or when significant changes are made in instructional deliver. The committee membership should include an administrator, counselor, health teacher(s), nurse, parent(s) and student(s).

When developing/reviewing the instructional program, the committee should consider the following: Provision of awareness information for all choices. Provision of accurate, unbiased and up-to-date information. Provision of instruction consistent with public health information. The age, gender and developmental appropriateness of the instructional program. Opportunities for students to learn decision making skills.

Encouragement of family value discussion. Respect or diversity of beliefs. Small group instruction for sensitive topics. A plan to provide parent preview of the instructional program. A plan to provide parent notification of the instructional program.

For the use of videos, DVDs, or other instructional materials, the committee should consider the following: ▪ Capacity of videos, DVD, or instructional media to support the curriculum. ▪ Capacity to reach the personal interest level and ability of students. ▪ Compliance with all copyright laws and regulations. ▪ The “track record” of the video/DVD/instructional material based on previous instructional use. ▪ Local committee standards.

Parents must be afforded the opportunity to preview the program and instructional materials at least one week prior to presentation to the students. In addition, parents must be notified as to the exact time and day if the school plans to sponsor a speaker in the classroom so parents have the opportunity to exempt their student from participation. Permission of parents is not required for student participation in human sexuality or HIV instruction. However, parents who do not wish their student to participate in the human sexuality or the AIDS instructional programs may contact the appropriate school personnel, and alternative educational activities will be provided for the students.

Procedures to follow if a parent requests exemption from human sexuality or HIV/AIDS instruction are outlined in the Exemptions from Health or Physical Education Curriculum directive.

Cross Ref.: ▪ Board Policy I.09: Teaching About Controversial or Sensitive Issues ▪ Board Policy K.01: Community Involvement Instructional Directive: ▪ Exemptions from Health or Physical Education Curriculum Legal Ref.: ▪ PED Regulation 6.12.3.9 ▪ PED Regulation 6.12.3.10 NSBA/NEPN Classification: IJG Revised: May 1995  Revised: April 1996  Revised: May 1997  Revised: August 2004 Exemptions from Health or Physical Education Curriculum – Procedural Directive

Health Curriculum Requirements District Waiver Request Students should not be exempted from the entire class but rather specific topics or lessons. This procedure should be looked upon as a partnership between the parents and the school, designed to best meet the needs of each student and family. The following steps should be taken. A. Teachers should communicate the curricular content to parents. B. The parent should contact the teacher and request a meeting. C. The parent and teachers (and administrator if deemed necessary) should review the entire curriculum and come to an agreement to identify specifically what areas or topics to exempt the student.

D. The teacher should supply the parents with the state standards that are met by this topic and agree upon an alternative assignment(s) that will meet these standards. E. A written agreement should be drawn up that includes the following: a. Specific dates the student will be out of class. b. Where and to whom the student is to report on these days. c. The assignment that has been agreed upon by both teacher and parent(s). d. The standards that are being met. e. How the student will be evaluated for this assignment. f. Principal’s approval.

The teacher should make available any resources (lesson plans, books, and videos) that are ordinarily used in the class or are available as alternative materials. However, the parent may use alternative materials that meet the state standards. If the school is unable to reach agreement with the parent to waive only a portion of the course and a waiver of the complete course is requested, the following procedure applies: ▪ The parent may request to teach the state health standards using materials and methods that support parent values. ▪ The district superintendent may waive the health course requirement upon request by the parent. The student must choose another course in place of the health course. ▪ Another option is a correspondence program aligned to state standards and acceptable to both the school and family.

State Waiver Request- A parent who objects to one or more state standards should request a student waiver by writing a letter to the State Secretary of the Public Education Department and present it to the District Superintendent for local district recommendation and transmittal to the state.