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HIV PREVENTION EDUCATION
The Board of Education recognizes that HIV prevention education is an instructional area in which responsibilities are shared with parents and the curriculum must be consistent with the values and ideals of the home and other community institutions. Appropriately trained staff members having responsibility for implementation of this program must be aware of the school's role in relation to the home and other institutions and must do everything possible to ensure that the instruction provided is appropriate to the developmental level of the pupils and complementary to and supportive of the community's goals and expectations. The Board of Education shall maintain a HIV prevention education curriculum that provides materials suited to each grade level, presented in a manner intended to foster respect for the human body, the nature, transmission, prevention, and effects of the disease, and an understanding of how human sexuality affects personal and family relationships. The curriculum, developed under the supervision of the Superintendent or his/her designee with the active participation of teachers, administrators, pupils, parents/guardians, physicians, members of the clergy and representative members of the community, shall be in conformance with the Core Curriculum Content Standards and available to each school for review by members of the school community. An outline of the curriculum and list of instructional materials for the grades of their children shall be sent to parents/guardians annually. Any pupil whose parent/guardian presents to the school principal a signed statement that any part of the instruction in health, HIV prevention education or sex education is in conflict with their conscience, or moral or religious beliefs, shall be excused from that portion of the course where such instruction is being given, and no penalties as to credit, grade promotion, or graduation shall result there from. Independent study shall be directed during the time a pupil is excused from part of the program. The independent study shall include alternative topics that do not conflict with the parents/guardian's beliefs but are within the same subject area (i.e., comprehensive health education) as the program from which the pupil is excused. No penalties as to grade promotion, credit, or graduation shall result from such an exemption. The Superintendent or his/her designee shall establish an ad hoc committee to assist the professional staff review, evaluate, and recommend proposed changes in HIV prevention curriculum and instructional materials. The Board of Education, upon recommendation of the Superintendent or his/her designee, shall approve the content, sequence and materials of HIV prevention education. Date: December 10, 1990 October 29, 2001, First Reading November 19, 2001 Approved Legal References: N.J.S.A. 26:5c-1 et seq. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome N.J.S.A. 18A:33-1 District to furnish suitable facilities; adoption of courses of study N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.7 Parents statement of conflict with conscience N.J.A.C. 6:29-2.4 Attendance at school by pupils or adults infected |
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