I1400 - Human Growth and Development

Human Sexuality Education

The district shall provide age-appropriate, comprehensive human sexuality instruction for all students.  Instruction shall be integrated in the health education curriculum.  Instruction shall include information about:

1. Responsible sexual behaviors and hygienic practices which eliminate or reduce the risks of pregnancy, exposure to human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and other infectious or sexually transmitted diseases;
2. Abstinence for school-age youth and mutually monogamous relationships with an uninfected partner for adults, without the devaluing or ignoring of those young people who have had or are having sexual intercourse;
3. Contraceptive and disease reduction measures;
4. Statistics based on the latest medical information regarding both the possible side effects and health benefits of all forms of contraceptives, including the success and failure rates for prevention of pregnancy, and the efficacy of contraceptives in preventing HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases;
5. Emotional, physical and psychological consequences of early sexual involvement, including the consequences of disease or an unintended pregnancy;
6. Sexually transmitted diseases as serious possible hazards of sexual contact;
7. Laws pertaining to a young person's financial responsibility for their children;
8. Laws pertaining to persons 18 years of age/older having sexual relations with persons younger than 18 to whom they are not married;
9. No form of sexual expression being acceptable when it physically or emotionally harms oneself or others;
10. Unwanted physical or verbal sexual advances, and how to decline or accept them;
11. The wrongness of taking advantage of or exploiting another person;
12. The importance of honesty with oneself and others, respect for each person's dignity and well being and responsibility for one's actions;
13. Development of self-esteem, the development and practice of effective communication skills and the ability to resist peer pressure;
14. Responsible decision-making.  The district shall coordinate the course with the state/local health department where applicable.

The district shall make known to parents and district residents that the human sexuality instructional materials used in class, in a course, assembly or school-sponsored activity are available for review.  The district shall also encourage family communication and involvement.

Parents of minor students shall be notified in advance of any human sexuality instruction.  The notice shall state an opportunity to review materials, no student shall be required to take or participate in the instruction and a written objection submitted to the district will excuse a student with no disciplinary or academic consequences.