REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND FAMILY PLANNING AND HUMAN SEXUALITY INSTRUCTION | Administrative Guideline Manual

2414 - REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND FAMILY PLANNING AND HUMAN SEXUALITY INSTRUCTION

These guidelines have been developed to assist staff in implementing the School Corporation's program for human sexuality instruction. The term human sexuality instruction will include instruction related to reproductive health and family planning, human sexuality, emotional, physical, psychological, hygienic, economic, and social aspects of family life, sexually transmitted infections, and non-casual contact communicable diseases, such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

A Confirmation Checklist has been prepared, based on appropriate guidelines, and is designed to ensure that the program is implemented properly and minimizes concern by parents or other interested parties. See Form 2414 F2 - Confirmation Checklist Reproductive Health and Family Planning Program and Human Sexuality Instruction. State law requires that teachers who provide instruction on human sexuality or sexually transmitted infections shall:

teach abstinence from sexual activity outside of marriage as the expected standard for all school-age children;
include in the instruction that abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and other associated health problems;
include in the instruction that the best way to avoid sexually transmitted infections and other associated health problems is to establish a mutually faithful monogamous relationship in the context of marriage;
include age-appropriate instruction concerning the importance of consent to sexual activity between two (2) individuals; and
include in the instruction an in-person presentation on human growth and development during pregnancy that is medically accurate and age appropriate and includes a high definition ultrasound video at least three (3) minutes in duration showing the development of the brain, heart, sex organs and other vital organs in early fetal development and a high quality computer generated rendering or animation showing the process of fertilization and each stage of fetal development inside the uterus noting significant markers in cell growth and organ development for every week of pregnancy from fertilization to birth; however, if the course is 100% virtual, a virtual presentation that meets these requirements may be provided instead.

Each Principal should use the Checklist in working with the school staff at the beginning of each school year. Once the program has been started, a copy of the completed confirmation should be sent to the Superintendent's office by no later than October 1, and the original should be maintained in the school office.

The Corporation will make available for inspection by the parent of a student any instructional materials, including teachers’ manuals, curricular materials, films or other video materials, tapes, and other materials, used in connection with instruction on human sexuality and will post the list of instructional materials on the Corporation’s website. Each Principal should confirm that their school website includes this information.

In the event of a complaint about the program, the person or party should be made aware of the School Board's complaint procedure described in Policy 9130 - Public Complaints and Concerns. This policy is available at both the Superintendent's office and the office of each school. Any such complaint is most likely to concern the program itself or its implementation rather than the particular person teaching the program. Therefore, as the policy indicates, the complaint is to be handled by the Principal and not by a teacher. Be sure the complainant receives a copy of the procedure either through the mail or by coming to the office. Complaints that originate at the central office are to be handled in the same manner.

Before the Corporation may provide a student with instruction on human sexuality, the Principal must provide the parent of the student or the student, if the student is an adult or an emancipated minor, with a written request for consent to instruction. (See Form 2414F1 - Notification on Reproductive Health and Family Planning Program and Consent for Human Sexuality Instruction.) The consent form must include the following information:

an accurate summary of the contents and nature of the instruction on human sexuality that will be provided to the student;
whether the instruction on human sexuality will be taught to male and female students in a unified setting or in separate settings;
whether the instruction on human sexuality will be provided by a female or male instructor; and
a statement that a parent of a student or an adult or emancipated minor student has the right to review and inspect all materials related to the instruction on human sexuality (including teachers' manuals, curricular materials, films or other video materials, tapes, and other materials used in connection with instruction on human sexuality).

The written consent form may be sent in an electronic format. If the written consent form is sent in an electronic format, the written consent form must include a link to the list of instructional materials, including teachers' manuals, curricular materials, films or other video materials, tapes and other materials, used in connection with instruction on human sexuality on the Corporation's website. The parent of the student or the student, if the student is an adult or an emancipated minor, may return the consent form indicating that the parent of the student or the adult or emancipated student:

consents to the instruction; or
declines instruction.

If a student does not participate in the instruction on human sexuality, the Corporation shall provide the student with alternative academic instruction during the same time frame that the instruction on human sexuality is provided.

If the parent of the student or the student, if the student is an adult or an emancipated minor student, does not respond to the initial written request provided by the Principal within twenty-one (21) calendar days after receiving the request, the Principal shall provide the parent of the student or the student, if the student is an adult or an emancipated minor student, a second written notice requesting that the parent of the student or the student, if the student is an adult or an emancipated minor student, indicate, in a manner prescribed by the school, whether the parent of the student or the adult or emancipated minor student:

consents to the instruction; or
declines instruction.

The second written notice provided to a parent of a student or a student also must include the following information:

an accurate summary of the contents and nature of the instruction on human sexuality that will be provided to the student;
whether the instruction on human sexuality will be taught to male and female students in a unified setting or in separate settings;
whether the instruction on human sexuality will be provided by a female or male instructor; and
A statement that a parent of a student or an adult or emancipated minor student has the right to review and inspect all materials related to the instruction on human sexuality.

The notice may be sent in an electronic format. If the notice is sent in an electronic format, the written consent form must include a link to the list of instructional materials, including teachers' manuals, curricular materials, films or other video materials, tapes, and other materials, used in connection with instruction on human sexuality on the Corporation’s website.

If the school does not receive a response within ten (10) days after the notice, the student will receive the instruction on human sexuality unless the parent or the adult or emancipated minor student subsequently opts out of the instruction for the student.

Each Principal will direct teachers providing human sexuality instruction to include in the curriculum instruction concerning HIV and, to the extent possible, integrate this instruction with instruction on other serious communicable diseases.

Literature that is distributed to school children and young adults as part of this instruction must include information required by I.C. 20-34-3-17. Therefore, it must stress the moral aspects of abstinence from sexual activity and state that the best way to avoid HIV is for young people to refrain from sexual activity until they are ready as adults to establish, in the context of marriage, a mutually faithful monogamous relationship. The Board must approve HIV literature before it is distributed.