Capistrano Unified School District

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Sexual Health Education

Sexual Health Education

Assembly Bill (AB) 329, which has been called the California Healthy Youth Act (CHYA), was enacted on January 1, 2016, and modified California Education Code §§ 51930 to 51939. The law required school districts to add comprehensive sexual health education to the already existent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention education and to require this instruction one time during grades 6 through 8 and one time during grades 9 through 12.

“Comprehensive sexual health education” means education regarding human development and sexuality, including education on pregnancy, contraception, and sexually transmitted infections (Education Code § 51931).

This webpage is intended to help educate our community about the law and Capistrano Unified School District’s work to implement it for middle and high school students.

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

Pursuant to Education Code section 51938, parents have the right to excuse their student from all or part of comprehensive sexual health education, HIV prevention education, and assessments related to that education through an "opt out" request. Such a request must be in writing. You were advised of this right via the District's annual notification information provided at the beginning of the school year.

Pursuant to Education Code section 51931:
• Comprehensive Sexual Health Education is "education regarding human development and sexuality, including education on pregnancy, contraception, and sexually transmitted infections.
• HIV prevention education is "instruction on the nature of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and AIDS, methods of transmission, strategies to reduce the risk of HIV infection, and social and public health issues related to HIV and AIDS."

7th and 8th Grade Middle School Lessons

Our district will use the CUSD Board-adopted Middle School Sexual Health Lessons, and the instruction will be delivered in 7th and 8th Grade Science classes in spring. The law allows parents or guardians to remove their child from comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention education using a passive consent or “opt-out” process. Schools must not require active consent (“opt-in”) for participation in comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention education in any grade. State law allows you to remove your student from this instruction. Parental notification and opt-out opportunities will be shared at least 14 days prior to starting the lessons. If the parent/guardian does not request that the child be withheld, the child will receive the instruction as part of their science class. Students who do not participate in the comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention education will complete alternate lessons/activities that are not related to comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention education.

The law allows parents or guardians to remove their child from comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention education using a passive consent or “opt-out” process. Communication about opting out will be sent home by your school site prior to instruction.

Students who do not participate in the comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention education will participate in an alternate activity.

High School

Sexual health instruction has traditionally been part of high school health classes. With the passage of the California Healthy Youth Act (CHYA), additional content is required to be included. The units of instruction are outlined below:

· Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs

· First Aid/CPR

· Gender and Anatomy

· Creating a Safe and Inclusive School

· Pregnancy Outcomes and Birth Control

· Unhealthy/Healthy Relationships

Opt-Out Process

The law allows parents or guardians to remove their child from comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention education, using a passive consent or “opt-out” process. Schools must not require active consent (“opt-in”) for participation in comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention education in any grade. In order to remove a child from the instruction, a parent/guardian must state their request in writing to the school. If the parent/guardian does not request in writing that the child be withheld, the child will attend the instruction. Schools must not require parents/guardians to return a signed acknowledgment that they have received the notice in order for their child to participate in the instruction.

Here is the LINK to the opt-out form.

RESOURCES FOR SEXUAL HEALTH

Family Resource Center

VISIT THE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER