The
Board is committed to a comprehensive health education and health service
program as an integral part of each student's general education. The health
education program should emphasize a contemporary approach to health information
and the skills and knowledge necessary for students to understand and appreciate
the functioning and proper care of the human body.
In
addition, the student shall be presented with information regarding complex
social, physical and mental health problems which will be encountered in
society. In health education, students should examine the potential health
hazards of social, physical and mental situations which exist in the broad
school-community environment and learn to make intelligent, viable choices
on alternatives of serious personal consequence.
The
Board believes that the greatest opportunity for effective health education
lies within the public schools because of the opportunity to reach almost
all children at an age where positive, lifelong health habits may be engendered
and the availability of qualified personnel to conduct health education
programs and health services. Good health is a dynamic, not a static, quality
and therefore depends upon continuous, lifelong attention to scientific
advances and acquisition of new knowledge.
In
addition to the requirements listed below, the customary policies and regulations
concerning the approval of new curriculum content, units and materials
shall apply to any comprehensive health education courses offered by the
district:
1. Instructional
materials to be used in comprehensive health education courses
shall
be available for inspection by the public during school hours. A public
forum
shall be scheduled to receive public comments.
2. Parents/guardians
of all students shall be notified that such courses have been
scheduled
and that they may request that their child be exempt from a specific
portion
of the program on the grounds that it is contrary to their religious beliefs.
3. The
Board shall approve an exemption procedure. If
a student is granted an
exemption,
an alternate educational assignment shall be arranged.
4. Teachers
who provide instruction in comprehensive health education shall have
professional
preparation in the subject area, either at the pre-service or in-service
level.
Adopted: 9/24/92
LEGAL
REFS.: C.R.S. 22-25-106 (4)
C.R.S.
22-25-110 (2)
CROSS
REFS.: IGA, Curriculum Development
IGD,
Curriculum Adoption
IHACA*,
Law-Related Education
JLC,
Student Health Services and Requirements, and subcodes
Note: The Comprehensive Health Education Act of 1990 was
amended with SB186 in 2000. Specifically, C.R.S. 22-25-104(6) was
amended to read:
Any curriculum and materials developed and used in teaching sexuality and human reproduction shall include values and responsibility and shall give primary emphasis to abstinence by school-aged children. School officials shall receive prior written approval from a parent or guardian before his or her child may participate in any program discussing or teaching sexuality and human reproduction. Parents must receive, with the written permission slip, an overview of the topics and materials to be presented in the curriculum.
This amendment applies only to the programs funded through state grants dollars for Comprehensive Health Education. Therefore, if a funded program uses grant money to teach sex education, prior written approval from a parent or guardian is required. The written permission slip must be accompanied by an overview of the topics and materials to be presented in the curriculum.
Prior written approval is not required for other classes addressing
human reproduction such as biology or science unless such classes are part
of a Comprehensive Health Education program.
Monte
Vista School District No. C-8, Monte Vista, Colorado