HIV/AIDS EDUCATION POLICY

Transcription

1 HIV/AIDS EDUCATION POLICY The goal of this policy is to assist in the protection of students by providing them with the knowledge and skills necessary to avoid behaviors that will put them at risk of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes the condition of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Our county instructional program shall include the following components: INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM A. HIV/AIDS prevention education shall be integrated into current programs of study such as, but not limited to health, science, developmental guidance, and social studies at grades Presented in a developmenttally appropriate context, concepts related to HIV/AIDS education may be introduced from kindergarten through twelfth grade. B. Programs shall be comprehensive to provide not only knowledge about the disease AIDS, but also have a focus on the behaviors and skills necessary to prevent exposure to the virus. Students will also be encouraged to develop a compassionate response to persons who have contracted HIV/AIDS. C. All high school students will, upon completion of course requirements for graduation, unless exempted by their parents/guardians, have received appropriate AIDS prevention education. Such instruction shall normally be delivered within the health course requirements for graduation. D. Guidelines, such as those published by the Centers for Disease Control and the AIDS/HIV EDUCATION CURRICULUM as developed by the West Virginia State Department of Education shall be used in the curriculum development. STAFF DEVELOPMENT A. Provisions shall be made for all school staff to receive inservice training about the nature of the AIDS epidemic and means of controlling its spread, and the role of the school in providing education to prevent transmission. B. Educational personnel responsible for classroom instruction shall receive staff development that will enable them to implement effective HIV/AIDS education programs. C. Educational personnel responsible for delivering instruction shall periodically participate in staff development activities that will provide current information related to AIDS education. PARENT INVOLVEMENT A. Parents or guardians shall be made aware of and invited to staff development programs related to AIDS prevention education. B. As curricular materials are developed and/or adopted, parents or guardians shall be made aware of these materials. The HIV/AIDS curriculum and materials shall be available for parental examination. C. Inclusion of HIV/AIDS education in curricular areas such as science, social studies, and developmental guidance is warranted to assure total understanding of the disease and its consequences. 1

2 CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT C. Raleigh County shall provide a comprehensive AIDS education program to be implemented during the school year. D. The HIV/AIDS prevention education curriculum shall be developed with the assistance of professional personnel, parents, and community representatives. E. Inclusion of HIV/AIDS education in curricular areas such as science, social studies, and developmental guidance is warranted to assure total understanding of the disease and its consequences. EXCLUSION OF STUDENTS FROM HIV/AIDS AND SEXUALLLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE INSTRUCTION IN HEALTH EDUCATION CLASSES Raleigh County Schools will teach health education which includes instruction in grades six through twelve in the prevention, transmission and spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Parents will be provided a letter from the school notifying the parent that HIV/AIDS prevention education will be provided at the school (see sample letter). A form will be attached to the letter for parents to complete if they wish to request that their child be excluded from HIV/AIDS education (see sample form). Once the parents request has been received, it is the responsibility of the school principal to communicate this information to all appropriate personnel. The classroom teacher and other personnel are then responsible for assuring that the parents request is honored. For those students who are to be excluded, an alternative learning experience shall be assigned. Credit may not be withheld for students excluded, but completion of alternative assignments is required. SOURCES FOR THIS POLICY INCLUDE: Legislative Rule, West Virginia Board of Education Chapter , Series 50 (2422.4) West Virginia Codes: , , , D, APPROVED: October 12, 2004 REVISED: November 12,

3 105 ADAIR STREET BECKLEY, WV In complying with WV Codes , , , D, and , curriculum in the area of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome/Human Immunodeficiency Virus (AIDS/HIV) have been developed and will be implemented to provide students with an awareness for the prevention, transmission, and spread of AIDS, HIV, and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). These materials are available for public review. You may contact your child s principal to request information on the procedure for examining the curricular materials. Instruction in the prevention, transmission, and spread of AIDS, HIV, and other STDs will be delivered through courses such as health, science, developmental guidance, and social studies at the sixth grade level and will continue through the adolescent levels. This education may also be presented in a developmentally appropriate context in the earlier elementary levels. Board of Education personnel responsible for delivering instruction shall participate in staff development activities. These training sessions will be open to the public. If you desire more information in relationship to the staff development activities, please contact your child s principal. Parents or guardians who wish to exempt their child from AIDS, HIV, and other STD instruction may do so by signing an AIDS/HIV/STD Exemption Form. This form can be obtained by contacting your child s principal. No child will be penalized for missing this portion of the curriculum. All Exemption Forms are due by October 1 of each school year. 3

4 Name of Principal Telephone Number NAME OF SCHOOL STREET ADDRESS CITY ZIP CODE I,, parent of,a student in the grade at have examined the health course curriculum requirements and the materials to be used in the instruction of the prevention, transmission and spread of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. After review, I have decided that I wish to exempt my child from participation in such instruction in the health class. I understand that my child will be allowed to leave the health class on the day(s) that AIDS is the topic of instruction, and that he/she will be assigned an alternate health-related assignment which must be successfully completed in order for my child to receive credit. However, no test questions or outside assignments from the health teacher concerning the prevention, transmission, or spread of AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases will be required of my child. I understand that this form will be filed with my child s permanent record and that any exclusions from health curriculum in future years will require another letter from me. PARENT SIGNATURE ADDRESS TELEPHONE NUMBER 4

5 NAME OF SCHOOL STREET ADDRESS CITY ZIP CODE Name of Principal Telephone Number Dear, Thank you for your interest in our health curriculum. Not only has the West Virginia Legislature mandated in the law that we provide AIDS prevention education for our children, but we, as a school, also realize that it is a major contemporary issue. However we appreciate your concern for your child s participation in those specific classroom activities where the prevention, transmission, and spread of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases are discussed in the health class. We understand that you have chosen to exercise your right to exclude your child,, from his/her health class on those days when AIDS is the topic of the lesson. Your child will not be penalized for missing this portion of the curriculum. He/she will receive and alternate, healthrelated assignment which must be successfully completed in order to receive credit for the class and he/she will be excused by the health teacher to go to another room on the days that the prevention, transmission, and spread of AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases is discussed. Your child will not be required to answer test questions about the alternate assignment. No other part of the health curriculum will be missed by your child. As you know, each year, as your child progresses through our school system, the curriculum requirements change. That means you may wish to exclude him/her each year. We will not do so without your request. Thank you again for your show of interest and concern. Please fill out the attached form and return it to me at the school address as soon as possible. I will place it in your child s file. Sincerely, Principal 5