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2169 - HIV/AIDS Prevention Education Policy

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2169 - HIV/AIDS Prevention Education Policy

Policy 2168

INSTRUCTION 

HIV/AIDS Prevention Education 

The State of Washington mandates that HIV/AIDS education be taught in all school districts.  HIV/AIDS prevention education shall be limited to the discussion of the life-threatening dangers of the disease, its spread, and prevention.  Students in the Pasco School District 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, parent(s) or guardian(s), and other community members including, but not limited to, persons from the medical, public health, and mental health organizations and agencies.  The curricula and materials used in the AIDS education program may be the model curricula and resources available through SPI or, if developed by the school district, be approved for medical accuracy by the office on AIDS.  District-developed curricula shall be submitted to the office of AIDS 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 the office of AIDS has been completed. 

At least one month before teaching HIV/AIDS prevention education in any classroom the district will conduct, during convenient hours for the parent(s) or guardian(s) of students, at least one presentation concerning the curricula and materials that will be used for such education.  A presentation will be scheduled during the evening for those parents who find that time more convenient.  The parent(s) or guardian(s) shall be notified of the presentation.  The curricula and materials shall be available for inspection.  No student may be required to participate in AIDS prevention education if the student’s parent(s) or guardian(s), 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 by 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 the prevention of the spread or contraction of the HIV/AIDS virus 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 spread of the HIV/AIDS virus; and reliance on condoms puts an individual at risk for exposure to the disease. 

Cross References:    
Board Policy 3414 Infectious Diseases 

Legal References:    
RCW    28A.230-070 HIV/AIDS Education in public schools 

Adoption Date:  April 26, 1994