HUMAN SEXUALITY EDUCATION

HUMAN SEXUALITY EDUCATION

EMH (R)

SEX EDUCATION PROGRAM

All programs at both the elementary and secondary level shall be taught by the school nurse under the direction of the Health Services Director. Placement of programs are in the high school Health, Health Occupations classes, the middle school Science classes and in the elementary fourth and fifth grade Health classes. Only materials approved by the Sex Education Committee shall be used. Each nurse shall be responsible for becoming familiar with these materials and keeping materials current, as approved. Abstinence and the benefits of abstinence shall be stressed in each unit taught. All classes are to be taught from the abstinence perspective and present abstinence from sexual activity as the preferred choice of behavior in relationship to all sexual activity for unmarried persons, as dictated by Board Policy EMH.

SEX EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The Sex Education Advisory Committee, appointed by the Superintendent, is composed of parents, administrators, staff members and representatives from the community such as a minister and a physician. The committee meets regularly to receive new information, to review and evaluate materials and to develop goals and objectives for the entire educational program. The committee spends considerable time and effort in establishing program goals appropriate to the maturity level and needs of our students. Program goals and objectives shall be approved by the Board of Trustees according to Board Policy EMH. The committee also serves as a forum that allows parent input at regularly scheduled intervals. The committee is chaired by a parent and is placed under the direction of Health Services.

PARENTAL APPROVAL

Parental approval shall be obtained before a student shall be permitted instruction in sex education. A letter outlining the sex education curriculum topics shall be sent home with the student prior to the first class session in sex education. The parent must be informed of course content, schedule, and sign an approval for the student to attend the sex education program. An alternate assignment will be provided to the student by the teacher for those sessions in which parents have requested their children not participate.

A parent information night shall be provided for parents of elemen-tary and middle school students prior to scheduled classes on maturation or sex education. A time shall be provided for parents of elementary and middle school students to preview the Maturation or Sex Education program to be presented to their students. The school nurse shall present an overview of the Sex Education Program of NEISD and the goals for the appropriate age level. The principal, a representative teacher, a counselor, an administrator from the central office and any member of the Sex Education Advisory Committee may be present to support the school nurse during the presentation.

TEACHER ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY

All teachers shall use the school nurse and the materials approved by the NEISD Sex Education Committee when classes or groups discuss human sexuality. The teacher must stay with their class, maintain discipline, and assist the nurse in keeping rapport.

All teachers involved with any form of human sex education must study the guidelines and follow them accordingly. If there is a possibility of a problem developing, the nurse, teacher, or con-cerned parties shall initiate a meeting with the school principal and Health Services Director. The purpose of this meeting shall be to discuss the potential problem and possible solutions as soon as possible and to prevent problems and misunderstandings.

All questions relating to sex education issues should be directed to the school nurse All questions shall be answered by the nurse with factual, scientific information. Any question relating to a religious or moral issue shall be referred to parents.

Teachers , as well as school nurses, should be sensitive to differences in culture, religion, race and sex. The issues of homosexuality, abortion, sex deviation, and other controversial matters are not part of the curriculum and should be left to the clergy and the family.

Teachers shall send and collect Parent Permission Forms. Students not allowed to participate in a class shall be given another assignment by the teacher and shall not be sent to the class presentation with the nurse.

CAMPUS COORDINATOR

The Principal shall designate one person to represent teachers and to assist the Principal in coordinating the Sex Education Program. The science/health department head shall be the representative to coordinate sex education in the science/health classes in the secondary schools. In the elementary schools, the principal may assign the task to the grade level chairperson. The person shall work with the school nurse to coordinate dates for the program and parent preview, the use of any AV equipment, and the location and set up for all sex education classes.

MATERIALS AND TEXTBOOKS

Only state adopted textbooks approved by the District Board of Trustees and materials approved by the NEISD Sex Education Advisory Committee shall be used. All materials used in teaching sex education, including textbooks, booklets, handouts or any audio/visual materials must be approved by the Sex Education Committee.

Current materials and program objectives shall be outlined in the Sex Education Handbook for each level and kept on file by each school nurse.

PLANNING FOR SEX EDUCATION

It is recommended that sex education be scheduled at an appro-priate place in the curriculum. Teachers or the department chair-persons in the specified classes where this program is placed shall meet early in the year with the school nurse to plan and schedule the program dates. Program materials and permission letters shall be ordered through Health Services, Central Office.

SCHOOL NURSE ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY

The school nurse shall continue to upgrade needed teaching skills in this area and to act as resource teacher for the program as well as presenter for the parent information night. Recommendations and evaluation comments shall be forwarded to Health Services.

The school nurse shall notify Health Services of the program dates, parent preview and request needed materials and permis-sion letters.

The school nurse, like the classroom teacher, should be aware of the many religious and cultural values and refer all moral issues to the child's parent and family.

The school nurse shall be responsible for keeping the current approved list of materials to be used in the Sex Education Program and shall use only those materials and programs outlined in the Sex Education Handbook for each level.

(PWA'S) PERSONS WITH AIDSSPEAKERS/ PROGRAMS

All programs and use of persons with AIDS as speakers in the classroom shall be approved by the high school principal and Health Services. Such programs shall be for high school students only. Evening programs at any of the schools for parents and students shall follow the same guidelines for choice of speakers.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

Coordination and planning for HIV education programs shall be done through the school nurse and the Health Services office and with approval of the principal. The school nurse shall assist in coordinating and facilitating the program(s) for students, teachers and/or parents with the Health Services Director. All guidelines for HIV education approved by the Sex Education Committee shall be followed. Persons with AIDS to be used as speakers shall be screened by Health Services and/or shall have completed the training to become WEDGE speakers provided by the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District and/or the San Antonio AIDS Foundation. Recommendations of such persons (PWA's) may come from agencies such as the San Antonio AIDS Foundation, the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District or private physicians or agencies.

ISSUE DATE: 7/21/98

HUMAN SEXUALITY EDUCATION		EMH (R)
SEX EDUCATION PROGRAM	All programs at both the elementary and secondary level shall be taught by the school nurse under the direction of the Health Services Director. Placement of programs are in the high school Health, Health Occupations classes, the middle school Science classes and in the elementary fourth and fifth grade Health classes. Only materials approved by the Sex Education Committee shall be used. Each nurse shall be responsible for becoming familiar with these materials and keeping materials current, as approved. Abstinence and the benefits of abstinence shall be stressed in each unit taught. All classes are to be taught from the abstinence perspective and present abstinence from sexual activity as the preferred choice of behavior in relationship to all sexual activity for unmarried persons, as dictated by Board Policy EMH.
SEX EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE	The Sex Education Advisory Committee, appointed by the Superintendent, is composed of parents, administrators, staff members and representatives from the community such as a minister and a physician. The committee meets regularly to receive new information, to review and evaluate materials and to develop goals and objectives for the entire educational program. The committee spends considerable time and effort in establishing program goals appropriate to the maturity level and needs of our students. Program goals and objectives shall be approved by the Board of Trustees according to Board Policy EMH. The committee also serves as a forum that allows parent input at regularly scheduled intervals. The committee is chaired by a parent and is placed under the direction of Health Services.
PARENTAL APPROVAL	Parental approval shall be obtained before a student shall be permitted instruction in sex education. A letter outlining the sex education curriculum topics shall be sent home with the student prior to the first class session in sex education. The parent must be informed of course content, schedule, and sign an approval for the student to attend the sex education program. An alternate assignment will be provided to the student by the teacher for those sessions in which parents have requested their children not participate. A parent information night shall be provided for parents of elemen-tary and middle school students prior to scheduled classes on maturation or sex education. A time shall be provided for parents of elementary and middle school students to preview the Maturation or Sex Education program to be presented to their students. The school nurse shall present an overview of the Sex Education Program of NEISD and the goals for the appropriate age level. The principal, a representative teacher, a counselor, an administrator from the central office and any member of the Sex Education Advisory Committee may be present to support the school nurse during the presentation.
TEACHER ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY	All teachers shall use the school nurse and the materials approved by the NEISD Sex Education Committee when classes or groups discuss human sexuality. The teacher must stay with their class, maintain discipline, and assist the nurse in keeping rapport. All teachers involved with any form of human sex education must study the guidelines and follow them accordingly. If there is a possibility of a problem developing, the nurse, teacher, or con-cerned parties shall initiate a meeting with the school principal and Health Services Director. The purpose of this meeting shall be to discuss the potential problem and possible solutions as soon as possible and to prevent problems and misunderstandings. All questions relating to sex education issues should be directed to the school nurse All questions shall be answered by the nurse with factual, scientific information. Any question relating to a religious or moral issue shall be referred to parents. Teachers , as well as school nurses, should be sensitive to differences in culture, religion, race and sex. The issues of homosexuality, abortion, sex deviation, and other controversial matters are not part of the curriculum and should be left to the clergy and the family. Teachers shall send and collect Parent Permission Forms. Students not allowed to participate in a class shall be given another assignment by the teacher and shall not be sent to the class presentation with the nurse.
CAMPUS COORDINATOR	The Principal shall designate one person to represent teachers and to assist the Principal in coordinating the Sex Education Program. The science/health department head shall be the representative to coordinate sex education in the science/health classes in the secondary schools. In the elementary schools, the principal may assign the task to the grade level chairperson. The person shall work with the school nurse to coordinate dates for the program and parent preview, the use of any AV equipment, and the location and set up for all sex education classes.
MATERIALS AND TEXTBOOKS	Only state adopted textbooks approved by the District Board of Trustees and materials approved by the NEISD Sex Education Advisory Committee shall be used. All materials used in teaching sex education, including textbooks, booklets, handouts or any audio/visual materials must be approved by the Sex Education Committee. Current materials and program objectives shall be outlined in the Sex Education Handbook for each level and kept on file by each school nurse.
PLANNING FOR SEX EDUCATION	It is recommended that sex education be scheduled at an appro-priate place in the curriculum. Teachers or the department chair-persons in the specified classes where this program is placed shall meet early in the year with the school nurse to plan and schedule the program dates. Program materials and permission letters shall be ordered through Health Services, Central Office.
SCHOOL NURSE ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY	The school nurse shall continue to upgrade needed teaching skills in this area and to act as resource teacher for the program as well as presenter for the parent information night. Recommendations and evaluation comments shall be forwarded to Health Services. The school nurse shall notify Health Services of the program dates, parent preview and request needed materials and permis-sion letters. The school nurse, like the classroom teacher, should be aware of the many religious and cultural values and refer all moral issues to the child's parent and family. The school nurse shall be responsible for keeping the current approved list of materials to be used in the Sex Education Program and shall use only those materials and programs outlined in the Sex Education Handbook for each level.
(PWA'S) PERSONS WITH AIDSSPEAKERS/ PROGRAMS	All programs and use of persons with AIDS as speakers in the classroom shall be approved by the high school principal and Health Services. Such programs shall be for high school students only. Evening programs at any of the schools for parents and students shall follow the same guidelines for choice of speakers.
GENERAL GUIDELINES	Coordination and planning for HIV education programs shall be done through the school nurse and the Health Services office and with approval of the principal. The school nurse shall assist in coordinating and facilitating the program(s) for students, teachers and/or parents with the Health Services Director. All guidelines for HIV education approved by the Sex Education Committee shall be followed. Persons with AIDS to be used as speakers shall be screened by Health Services and/or shall have completed the training to become WEDGE speakers provided by the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District and/or the San Antonio AIDS Foundation. Recommendations of such persons (PWA's) may come from agencies such as the San Antonio AIDS Foundation, the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District or private physicians or agencies.