• IGAH: Family Life Education and Sex Education

    Policy

    The Board believes that the purpose of family life and sex education is to help students acquire factual knowledge, attitudes, and values, which result in behavior that contributes to the well-being of the individual, the family, and society.

    Helping students attain a mature and responsible attitude toward human sexuality is a continuous task of every generation. Parents have the primary responsibility to assist their children in developing moral values. The schools should support and supplement parents' efforts by offering students factual information and opportunities to discuss concerns, issues, and attitudes.

    In addition to the requirements listed below, the policies and regulations concerning the approval of new curriculum content, units, and materials apply to any course(s) dealing with family life and sex education.

    • Instructional materials to be used in family life/sex education are available for review by parents during school hours.
    • Teachers who provide age-appropriate instruction in family life/sex education have professional preparation in the subject area.
    • Schools shall provide annual instruction in family life and sex education to grades 6-12.
    • Principals and/or sexual health education instructors shall submit attendance reports for all students who receive family life/sex education within the school year.
    • The Office of Responsible Sexual Behavior must approve outside facilitators.

    Under Ohio Revised Code 3313.6011(C)(1), the course material and instruction in venereal disease must:

    • Emphasize that abstinence from sexual activity is the only protection that is 100% effective against unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted disease, and the sexual transmission of HIV
    • Stress that students should abstain from sexual activity until after marriage
    • Teach the potential physical, psychological, emotional, and social side effects of participating in sexual activity outside of marriage
    • Teach that conceiving a child out of wedlock may have harmful consequences for the child, the child's parents, and society
    • Stress that sexually transmitted diseases are serious possible hazards of sexual activity
    • Advise students of the laws about the financial responsibility of parents to children born in and out of wedlock
    • Advise students of the circumstances under which it is criminal to have sexual contact with a person under the age of 16 under Ohio Revised Code Section 2907.04
    • Emphasize adoption as an option for unintended pregnancies

    A school must excuse a student from taking instruction in venereal disease education upon the student's parent or guardian's written request.

    If the District or a school offers additional instruction in venereal disease or sexual education not specified in Ohio Revised Section 3313.6011(C)(1), all parents or guardians of students must be notified of such instruction. The notice includes the name of any instructor, vendor name when applicable, and the curriculum name. Schools only provide this additional instruction to students whose parent or guardian has submitted written permission for their student to receive the instruction.

    History

    • Adopted: March 29, 2022

    Legal References