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IGAI - Human Sexuality, AIDS/HIV, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Health Education**

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Code: IGAI
Adopted: 4/16/14
Revised/Readopted: 8/08/17; 3/14/23
Orig. Code(s): IGAI

The ESD shall provide an age-appropriate, comprehensive plan of instruction focusing on human sexuality, HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections and disease prevention in elementary and secondary schools as an integral part of health education and other subjects. Course material and instruction for all human sexuality education courses that discuss human sexuality shall enhance a student’s understanding of sexuality as a normal and healthy aspect of human development. A part of the comprehensive plan of instruction shall provide age-appropriate child sexual abuse prevention instruction for students in kindergarten through grade 12. The district must provide a minimum of four instructional sessions annually; one instruction session is equal to one standard class period. In addition, the HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections and disease prevention education and the human sexuality education comprehensive plan shall provide adequate instruction at least annually, for all students in grades 6 through 8 and at least twice during grades 9 through 12.

Parents, teachers, school administrators, local health departments staff, other community representatives and persons from the medical community who are knowledgeable of the latest scientific information and effective education strategies shall develop the plan of instruction aligned with the Oregon Health Education Standards and Benchmarks.

The Board shall approve the plan of instruction and require that it be reviewed and update biennially in accordance with new scientific information and effective educational strategies.

Parents of minor students shall be notified in advance of any human sexuality, AIDS/HIV instruction. Any parent may request that their child be excused from that portion of the instructional program under the procedures set forth in Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 336.035(2).

The comprehensive plan of instruction shall include the following information that:

  1. Promotes abstinence for school age youth and mutually monogamous relationships with an uninfected partner for adults;

  2. Allays those fears concerning HIV that are scientifically groundless;

  3. Is balanced and medically accurate;

  4. Provides balanced and accurate information and skills-based instruction on risks and benefits of contraceptives, condoms and other disease reduction measures;

  5. Discusses responsible sexual behaviors and hygienic practices which may reduce or eliminate unintended pregnancy, exposure to HIV, hepatitis B/C and other sexually transmitted infections and diseases;

  6. Stresses high-risk behaviors such as the sharing of needles or syringes for injecting illegal drugs and controlled substances;

  7. Discusses the characteristics of the emotional, physical and psychological aspects of a healthy relationship;

  8. Discusses the benefits of delaying pregnancy beyond the adolescent years as a means to better ensure a healthy future for parents and their children. The student shall be provided with statistics based on the latest medical information regarding both the health benefits and the possible side effects of all forms of contraceptives including the success and failure rates for prevention of pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and diseases;

  9. Stresses that HIV/STDs and Hepatitis B/C can be serious possible hazards of sexual contact;

  10. Provides students with information about Oregon laws that address young people’s rights and responsibilities relating to childbearing and parenting;

  11. Advises students of consequences of having sexual relations with persons younger than 18 years of age to whom they are not married;

  12. Encourages family communication and involvement and helps students learn to make responsible, respectful and healthy decisions;

  13. Teaches that no form of sexual expression or behavior is acceptable when it physically or emotionally harms oneself or others and that it is wrong to take advantage of or exploit another person;

  14. Teaches that consent is an essential component of healthy sexual behavior. Course material shall promote positive attitudes and behaviors related to healthy relationships and sexuality, and encourage active student bystander behavior;

  15. Teachers students how to identify and respond to attitudes and behaviors which contribute to sexual violence;

  16. Validates the importance of one’s honesty, respect for each person’s dignity and well-being, and responsibility for ones’ actions;

  17. Uses inclusive materials and strategies that recognizes different sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expression;

  18. Includes information about relevant community resources, how to access these resources and the laws that protect the rights of minors to anonymously access these resources; and

  19. Is culturally inclusive.

The comprehensive plan of instruction shall emphasize skill-based instruction that:

  1. Assists students to develop and practice effective communication skills, development of self-esteem and ability to resist peer pressure;

  2. Provides students with the opportunity to learn about and personalize peer, media, technology and community influences that both positively and negatively impact their attitudes and decisions related to healthy sexuality, relationships and sexual behaviors, including decisions to abstain from sexual intercourse;

  3. Enhances students’ ability to access valid health information and resources related to their sexual health;

  4. Teaches how to develop and communicate sexual and reproductive boundaries;

  5. Is research based, evidence based or best practices; and

  6. Aligns with the Oregon Health Education Content Standards and Benchmarks.

All sexuality education programs emphasize that abstinence from sexual intercourse, when practiced consistently and correctly, is the only 100 percent effective method against unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted HIV and hepatitis B/C infection and other sexually transmitted infections and diseases.

Abstinence is to be stressed, but not to the exclusion of contraceptives and condoms for preventing  unintended pregnancy, HIV infection, hepatitis B/C infection and other sexually transmitted  infections and diseases. Such courses are to acknowledge the value of abstinence while not devaluing or ignoring those students who have had or are having sexual relationships. Further, sexuality education materials, including instructional strategies, and activities must not, in any way use shame or fear-based tactics.

Materials and information shall be presented in a manner sensitive to the fact that there are students who have experienced, perpetrated or witnessed sexual abuse and relationship violence.

The ESD’s health and sexuality education will provide information on menstrual health and will be inclusive and affirming of transgender, non-binary, intersex, and two spirit/indigiqueer students; be positive and not fear- or shame-based; be age-appropriate; be medically-accurate; be culturally responsive; and be accessible for students with disabilities.

END OF POLICY

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