HIV/AIDS Education

HIV/AIDS EDUCATION > PENNSYLVANIA LAW

Curriculun Regulation 4.29 - HIV/AIDS and Other Life-Threatening and Communicable Diseases. Pennsylvania Code web site, Title 22 - site official working version

Proposed Chapter 4.29 Regulation Changes

Cited Below This Reading

§ 4.29. HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening and communicable diseases.

(a) Instruction regarding prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and other life-threatening and communicable diseases shall be given for primary, intermediate, middle school and high school education and shall follow the requirements of subsections (b) and (c).

(b) Educational materials and instruction shall be determined by the local school district and be appropriate to the age group being taught. The program of instruction shall include information about the nature of the diseases, treatments and cures, methods of transmission and how infection can be prevented. The school district may omit instruction in the elementary grades on transmission of disease through sexual activity. Programs discussing transmission through sexual activity shall stress that abstinence from sexual activity is the only completely reliable means of preventing sexual transmission. Programs shall stress that avoidance of illegal drug use is the only completely reliable means of preventing transmission of disease through shared drug paraphernalia.

(c) A school district, including charter schools, shall excuse a pupil from HIV/AIDS instruction when the instruction conflicts with the religious beliefs or principles of the pupil or parent or guardian of the pupil and when excusal is requested in writing. Prior to the commencement of instruction, a school district shall publicize that detailed curriculum outlines and curricular materials used in conjunction with the instruction are available to parents and guardians during normal school hours or at teacher-parent conferences. Curricular materials, if practical, shall be made available by the school district for home instruction use by a parent or guardian of a student excused from the district’s HIV/AIDS instruction.

Proposed Chapter 4.29 Regulation Changes

pg. 25-27

Note: Information in parenthesis is to be deleted from the regulation. Information tht is underlined is to added to the regulation.

§ 4.29. HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening and communicable diseases.

(a) Planned [I]instruction aligned with the academic standards for health regarding the prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection[/], acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and other life-threatening and communicable diseases shall be [given for] provided to every student in the primary, intermediate, middle school and high school [education] levels and shall follow the requirements of subsections (b), [and] (c), (d) and (e).

(b) Educational materials and instruction shall be determined by the local school district [and be appropriate to the age group being taught] in accordance with subsections (c), (d) and (e). [The program of instruction shall include information about the nature of the diseases, treatments and cures, methods of transmission and how infection can be prevented. The school district may omit instruction in the elementary grades on transmission of disease through sexual activity. Programs discussing transmission through sexual activity shall stress that abstinence from sexual activity is the only completely reliable means of preventing sexual transmission. Programs shall stress that avoidance of illegal drug use is the only completely reliable means of preventing transmission of disease through shared drug paraphernalia.]

(c) The program of instruction shall include information about the nature of the diseases, treatments and cures, methods of transmission and how infection can be prevented. It is recommended that the school district’s age appropriate planned curriculum conform to the “Guidelines for Effective School Health Education to Prevent the Spread of AIDS,” issued by the United State Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or other science-based guideline. The school district may omit instruction in the elementary grades (K-6) on transmission of disease through sexual activity. Programs discussing transmission through sexual activity shall stress that abstinence from sexual activity is the only completely reliable means of preventing sexual transmission. Programs shall stress that avoidance of illegal drug use is the only completely reliable means of preventing transmission of disease through shared drug paraphernalia.

[c] (d) A school [district, including charter schools,] entity shall excuse a pupil from HIV/AIDS instruction when, based upon an inspection of the instructional materials, the parents or guardians find that the instruction conflicts with the their religious beliefs, [or principles of the pupil or parent or guardian of the pupil and when excusal is requested in writing] and the parents or guardians have delivered a written request for excusal to the school entity. [Prior to the commencement of instruction, a school district shall publicize that detailed curriculum outlines and curricular materials used in conjunction with the instruction are available to parents and guardians during normal school hours or at teacher-parent conferences.] Curricular materials, if practical, shall be made available by the school [district] entity for home instructional use by a parent or guardian [of a] if the student has been excused from the school entity’s [district’s] HIV/AIDS instruction.

(e) Before beginning HIV/AIDS instruction, a school entity shall publicize that detailed curriculum outlines and curricular materials used in conjunction with the planned instruction are available to parents and guardians for review during normal school hours or at teacher-parent conferences.

Academic Standards for Health, Safety & Physical Education
Standards finalized January 2003

Chapter 4 Academic Standards and Assessments

Proposed Chapter 4 (Curriculum) Regulations