File:  IHAMC - HIV/AIDS Education

The goal of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) prevention education is to promote healthful living and discourage behaviors that put people at risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS. At the present time, society's most effective weapon against this deadly disease is public education.

In the course of living their daily lives, students will come in contact with people who are both HIV infected (asymptomatic) and at the later stages of AIDS.  Therefore the district's health education program shall include factual information regarding HIV infection and how the virus is transmitted.  Students shall be told what voluntary behaviors put them at risk of infection and also shall be motivated to prevent infection by making wise decisions in their daily lives. Students shall also be taught that the risk of transmitting HIV/AIDS in a school setting is low when preventative procedures are followed.

The Board believes that HIV/AIDS instruction is most effective when integrated into a comprehensive health education program.  Instruction shall be developmentally appropriate to the grade level of the students and shall occur in a systematic manner.  The Board particularly desires that students receive proper education about HIV before they reach the age when they may adopt behaviors which put them at risk of contracting the disease.

In order for education about HIV to be most effective, the superintendent or designee shall ensure that faculty members who present this instruction receive continuing inservice training which includes appropriate teaching strategies and techniques.  Other staff members not involved in direct instruction but who have contact with students shall receive basic information about HIV/AIDS and instruction in the use of universal precautions when dealing with body fluids.

School faculty, parents, community members including physicians, and students as appropriate shall be involved in the development of HIV education.  In accordance with Board policy, parents/guardians shall have an opportunity to review the HIV education program before it is presented to students.

Parents/guardians of all students shall be notified when HIV/AIDS instruction is scheduled so they may request that their child be exempt on the grounds that it is contrary to their religious beliefs. If the request for the exemption is from a specific portion of the HIV/AIDS curriculum that concerns human sexuality, no reason must be given by the parent/guardian when requesting the exemption.

Adopted August 22, 1995

Revised August 27, 2003

Revised: March 25, 2014

LEGAL REFS.:  C.R.S. 22-1-110.5

C.R.S. 22-25-101 et seq. (Comprehensive Health Education Act)

20 U.S.C. 7906  (No Child Left Behind Act of 2001)

CROSS REFS.:  EBBA, Prevention of Disease/Infection Transmission

IHAM, Health Education

IHAMB, Family Life/Sex Education