California Education Codes Section 51933

Authorized Comprehensive Sexual Health Education

1. School districts may provide comprehensive sexual health education, consisting of age- appropriate instruction, in any kindergarten to grade 12, inclusive, using instructors trained in the appropriate courses.
2. A school district that elects to offer comprehensive sexual health education pursuant to subdivision (a), whether taught by school district personnel or outside consultants, shall satisfy all of the following criteria:
1. Instruction and materials shall be age appropriate.
2. All factual information presented shall be medically accurate and objective.
3. Instruction shall be made available on an equal basis to a pupil who is an English learner, consistent with the existing curriculum and alternative options for an English learner pupil as otherwise provided in this code.
4. Instruction and materials shall be appropriate for use with pupils of all races, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and pupils with disabilities.
5. Instruction and materials shall be accessible to pupils with disabilities, including, but not limited to, the provision of a modified curriculum, materials and instruction in alternative formats, and auxiliary aids.
6. Instruction and materials shall encourage a pupil to communicate with his or her parents or guardians about human sexuality.
7. Instruction and materials shall teach respect for marriage and committed relationships.
8. Commencing in grade 7, instruction and materials shall teach that abstinence from sexual intercourse is the only certain way to prevent unintended pregnancy, teach that abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, and provide information about the value of abstinence while also providing medically accurate information on other methods of preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
9. Commencing in grade 7, instruction and materials shall provide information about sexually transmitted diseases. This instruction shall include how sexually transmitted diseases are and are not transmitted, the effectiveness and safety of all federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved methods of reducing the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, and information on local resources for testing and medical care for sexually transmitted diseases.
10. Commencing in grade 7, instruction and materials shall provide information about the effectiveness and safety of all FDA-approved contraceptive methods in preventing pregnancy, including, but not limited to, emergency contraception.
11. Commencing in grade 7, instruction and materials shall provide pupils with skills for making and implementing responsible decisions about sexuality.
12. Commencing in grade 7, instruction and materials shall provide pupils with information on the law on surrendering physical custody of a minor child 72 hours or younger, pursuant to Section 1255.7 of the Health and Safety Code and Section 271.5 of the Penal Code.
3. A school district that elects to offer comprehensive sexual health education pursuant to subdivision (a) earlier than grade 7 may provide age appropriate and medically accurate information on any of the general topics contained in paragraphs (8) to (12), inclusive, of subdivision (b).
4. If a school district elects to offer comprehensive sexual health education pursuant to subdivision (a), whether taught by school district personnel or outside consultants, the school district shall comply with the following:

1. Instruction and materials may not teach or promote religious doctrine.
2. Instruction and materials may not reflect or promote bias against any person on the basis of any category protected by Section 220.

California Education Codes Section 51934

Required HIV/AIDS Prevention Education

1. A school district shall ensure that all pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, receive HIV/AIDS prevention education from instructors trained in the appropriate courses. Each pupil shall receive this instruction at least once in junior high or middle school and at least once in high school.
2. HIV/AIDS prevention education, whether taught by school district personnel or outside consultants, shall satisfy all of the criteria set forth in paragraphs (1) to (6), inclusive, of subdivision (b) and paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 51933, shall accurately reflect the latest information and recommendations from the United States Surgeon General, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Academy of Sciences, and shall include the following:

1. Information on the nature of HIV/AIDS and its effects on the human body.
2. Information on the manner in which HIV is and is not transmitted, including
3. information on activities that present the highest risk of HIV infection.
4. Discussion of methods to reduce the risk of HIV infection. This instruction shall emphasize that sexual abstinence, monogamy, the avoidance of multiple sexual partners, and abstinence from intravenous drug use are the most effective means for HIV/AIDS prevention, but shall also include statistics based upon the latest medical information citing the success and failure rates of condoms and other contraceptives in preventing sexually transmitted HIV infection, as well as information on other methods that may reduce the risk of HIV transmission from intravenous drug use.
5. Discussion of the public health issues associated with HIV/AIDS.
6. Information on local resources for HIV testing and medical care.
7. Development of refusal skills to assist pupils in overcoming peer pressure and using effective decision making skills to avoid high-risk activities.
8. Discussion about societal views on HIV/AIDS, including stereotypes and myths regarding persons with HIV/AIDS. This instruction shall emphasize compassion for persons living with HIV/AIDS.

California Education Codes Section 51938.

Parental Notice and Excuse

51938. A parent or guardian of a pupil has the right to excuse their child from all or part of comprehensive sexual health education, HIV/AIDS prevention education, and assessments related to that education, as follows:

At the beginning of each school year, or, for a pupil who enrolls in a school after the beginning of the school year, at the time of that pupil's enrollment, each school district shall notify the parent or guardian of each pupil about instruction in comprehensive sexual health education and HIV/AIDS prevention education and research on pupil health behaviors and risks planned for the coming year. The notice shall include all of the following:

1. Advise the parent or guardian that written and audio visual educational materials used in comprehensive sexual health education and HIV/AIDS prevention education are available for inspection.
2. Advise the parent or guardian whether the comprehensive sexual health education or

    

3. HIV/AIDS prevention education will be taught by school district personnel or by outside consultants.
4. Information explaining the parent's or guardian's right to request a copy of this chapter.
5. Advise the parent or guardian that the parent or guardian may request in writing that his or her child not receive comprehensive sexual health education or HIV/AIDS prevention education.
Notwithstanding Section 51513, anonymous, voluntary, and confidential research and evaluation tools to measure pupils' health behaviors and risks, including tests, questionnaires, and surveys containing age appropriate questions about the pupil's attitudes concerning or practices relating to

sex may be administered to any pupil in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, if the parent or guardian is notified in writing that this test, questionnaire, or survey is to be administered and the pupil's parent or guardian is given the opportunity to review the test, questionnaire, or survey and to request in

writing that his or her child not participate.

California Education Codes Section 51939.

1. A pupil may not attend any class in comprehensive sexual education or HIV/AIDS prevention education, or participate in any anonymous, voluntary, and confidential test, questionnaire, or survey on pupil health behaviors and risks, if the school has received a written request from the pupil's parent or guardian excusing the pupil from participation.
2. A pupil may not be subject to disciplinary action, academic penalty, or other sanction if the pupil's parent or guardian declines to permit the pupil to receive comprehensive sexual health education or HIV/AIDS prevention education or to participate in anonymous, voluntary, and confidential tests, questionnaires, or surveys on pupil health behaviors and risks.
3. While comprehensive sexual health education, HIV/AIDS prevention education, or anonymous, voluntary, and confidential test, questionnaire, or survey on pupil health behaviors and risks is being administered, an alternative educational activity shall be made available to pupils whose parents or guardians have requested that they not receive the instruction or participate in the test, questionnaire, or survey.