The Ocean Gate Board of Education believes HIV education should be integrated into the comprehensive health education curriculum, but may also be applied to other curriculum areas.

The district HIV education program must address, at a minimum, the nature, transmission, prevention and effects of the disease. The program shall be provided through a coordinated sequential elementary curriculum, taking into consideration the age, growth, development and maturity of the pupils and the subject matter of the course. Development of the program should take into account the instructional needs of all pupils in the district.

The chief school administrator shall ensure that the information presented as a part of the HIV prevention education program is articulated in such a way that transition from grade to grade in the elementary schools and from elementary to secondary approaches to the material will be appropriate for all pupils.

The chief school administrator shall be responsible for the preparation and development of an HIV prevention education program, with active consultation and participation of an advisory committee consisting of teachers, administrators, parents/guardians, pupils (as appropriate), physicians, members of social and health service agencies, members of the clergy and representative members of the community. The board shall appoint the members of the committee upon the recommendation of the chief school administrator. The advisory committee shall be responsible for reviewing the instructional program and all materials to be used and, through the chief school administrator, of recommending same for board adoption.

Upon request, the HIV education curriculum will be made available to parents/guardians for their review. The chief school administrator will establish procedures whereby pupils whose parents/guardians present to the building principal a signed statement that a designated part of the instruction is in conflict with his/her conscience, morals or religious beliefs will be excused from that part of the curriculum. An alternative educational opportunity shall be provided during the time a pupil is excused from part or the entire program. The alternative educational opportunity will include topics that do not conflict with the parents/guardians beliefs but fall within the same subject area (i.e. comprehensive health education) as the program from which the pupil is excused. There shall be no loss of class credit or credit toward graduation from such an exemption.

The chief school administrator shall establish a process for evaluating and updating the HIV prevention education program to incorporate new information. Any such revisions shall be implemented after consultation with and review by an advisory committee as described above.

The board of education alone, upon the recommendation of the chief school administrator, shall determine the content, sequence, and materials of the HIV prevention education program. The board shall ensure compliance with all requirements of state and federal law concerning the content of the curriculum and distribution of materials.

Adopted: May 2006
NJSBA Review/Update: January 2009, October 2017
Readopted: January 21, 2009
Revised: October 2012
Readopted: October 17, 2012
Reviewed:

Key Words

AIDS, HIV Prevention Education

Legal References: 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.S.A. 18A:35-4.19 AIDS Prevention Act of 1999
through-4.22
N.J.S.A. 26:5c-1 et seq. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
N.J.A.C. 6A:8-3.1(d) Curriculum and instruction
N.J.A.C. 6A:16-2.1(a)7 Health services policy and procedural requirements
N.J.A.C. 8:61-1.1 et seq. Participation and Attendance at School by Individuals with HIV Infection
N.J.A.C. 12:100-4.2 Safety and Health Standards for Public Employees (Adoption by reference)

29 CFR 19910.1030 – Bloodborne Pathogens Standard

Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, Pub. L. 114-95, 20 U.S.C.A. 6301 et seq.

S. T. v. Board of Education of the City of Millville, 1986 S.L.D. (December 24), aff’d St. Bd.

Possible
Cross References: *1220 Ad hoc advisory committees
*4131/4131.1 Staff development; inservice education/visitations/conferences
*5124 Reporting to parents/guardians
*5131.6 Drugs, alcohol, tobacco (substance abuse)
*5141 Health
*5141.2 Illness
*5145.4 Equal educational opportunity
*6122 Articulation
*6140 Curriculum adoption
*6141 Curriculum design/development
*6142 Subject fields
*6142.1 Family life education
*6142.4 Physical education and health
*6144 Controversial issues
*6146 Graduation requirements
*6161.2 Complaints regarding instructional materials
*6300 Evaluation of the instructional program

*Indicates policy is included in the Critical Policy Reference Manual.