HIV/AIDS Prevention Education
The life-threatening dangers of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) and its prevention shall be taught in the district. HIV/AIDS prevention education shall be limited to the discussion of the life-threatening dangers of the disease, its transmission and prevention. Students shall receive such education at least once each school year beginning no later than the fifth grade.
The HIV/AIDS prevention education program shall be developed in consultation with teachers, administrators, parents, and other community members including, but not limited to, persons from medical, public health, and mental health organizations and agencies. The curricula and materials used in the HIV/AIDS education program may be the model curricula and resources available through OSPI or, if developed by the school district, be approved for medical accuracy by the State Department of Health, HIV/AIDS Prevention and Education Services (Office on AIDS). District-developed curricula shall be submitted to HIV/AIDS Prevention and Education Services accompanied by an affidavit of medical accuracy stating that the material in the district-developed curricula has been compared to the model curricula for medical accuracy and that in the opinion of the district the district-developed materials are medically accurate. Upon submission of the affidavit and curricula, the district may use these materials until the approval procedure to be conducted by HIV/AIDS Prevention and Education Services has been completed.
At least one month before teaching HIV/AIDS prevention education in any classroom the district will conduct, during weekend and evening hours for the parents and guardians of students, at least one presentation concerning the curricula and materials that will be used for such education. The parents and guardians shall be notified of the presentation and that the curricula and materials are available for inspection. No student may be required to participate in HIV/AIDS prevention education if the student’s parent or guardian, having attended one of the district presentations, objects in writing to participation.
The curriculum for HIV/AIDS prevention education shall be designed to teach students which behaviors place a person dangerously at risk of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and methods to avoid such risk including, at least:
- The dangers of drug abuse, especially that involving the use of hypodermic needles; and
- The dangers of sexual intercourse, with or without condoms.
The program of HIV/AIDS prevention education shall stress the life-threatening dangers of contracting HIV/AIDS and shall stress that abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain means for preventing the transmission of HIV through sexual contact. The instruction shall also stress that condoms and other artificial means of birth control are not a certain means of preventing the transmission of HIV; and, reliance on condoms puts an individual at risk for exposure to the disease.
Cross References:
Board Policy 3414 Infectious Diseases
Board Policy 2125 Sexual Health Education
Legal References:
RCW 28A.230.070 AIDS Education in public schools —Limitations — Program adoption — Model curricula — Student’s exclusion from participation
RCW 28A.300.475 Medically accurate sexual health education — Curricula — Participation excused — Parental review
RCW 70.24.250 Office on AIDS — Repository and Clearing House for AIDS Education and Training Materials
Management Resources:
Policy News, December 2008 HIV/AIDS Prevention Education
Adoption Date: 05/16/01
Revised: 07/24/13