BOARD POLICY NO. 6020: FAMILY LIFE/SEX EDUCATION
A. The Governing Board recognizes that the primary responsibility for family life/sex education lies in the home and that schools have a secondary role in supporting and supplementing the home's
responsibility. The local public schools, working in close partnership with families and communities, can assist in developing and reinforcing sound health practices. To this end, the Vista Unified School District offers a family life/sex education program for pupils in grades 5
through 12.
B. The Governing Board recognizes that guidance and formal instruction in family life/sex education will help students to become health-literate individuals with a lifelong commitment to healthy
living. The Governing Board acknowledges that students can develop the skills and attitudes necessary to act in such a way as to protect their health and well-being.
C. The Governing Board recognizes that adolescent sexual intercourse outside of marriage is unlawful and may result in a loss of self-esteem, dropping out of school, pregnancy, and increased risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections.
D. No pupil shall be required to attend any class in which human reproductive organs and their functions and processes are described, illustrated or discussed.
I. CURRICULUM
The Governing Board directs the Superintendent to establish a family life/sex education program that is built around the concept of abstinence and responsible decision-making and shall adhere to the
following criteria:
1. Course material and instruction shall be age appropriate.
2. Course material and instruction shall stress that pupils should abstain from sexual intercourse until marriage.
3. Course material and instruction shall stress that abstinence is the only contraceptive method which is 100% effective, and that all other methods of contraception carry a risk of failure in preventing unwanted teenage pregnancy. Statistics based on the latest medical information
shall be provided to pupils emphasizing the failure rate and citing the success rate of condoms and other contraceptives in preventing pregnancy. Such statistics and information shall reflect the latest information and recommendations from the United States Surgeon
General, Federal Centers for Disease Control, and the National Academy of Sciences, including the research findings upon which their recommendations are based.
4. Course material and instruction shall stress that sexually transmitted infections are a serious
possible hazard of sexual intercourse. Pupils shall be provided with statistics based on the
latest medical information emphasizing the failure rate and citing the success rate of
condoms in preventing AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
5. Course material and instruction shall include a discussion of the possible emotional and
psychological consequences of preadolescent and adolescent sexual intercourse outside of
marriage and the consequences of unwanted adolescent pregnancy.
6. Course material and instruction shall teach honor and respect for monogamous
heterosexual marriage.
7. Course material and instruction shall advise pupils of the laws pertaining to their financial
responsibility to children born in and out of wedlock.
8. Course material and instruction shall advise pupils that "unlawful sexual intercourse is an
act of sexual intercourse accomplished with a person who is not the spouse of the
perpetrator if the person is a minor." (Penal Code Section 261.5, 1993).
9. Course material and instruction shall emphasize that the student has the power to control
personal behavior. Pupils shall be encouraged to base their actions on reasoning, selfdiscipline,
sense of responsibility, self-control and ethical considerations, such as respect of
one's self and others.
10. Course material and instruction shall teach pupils not to make unwanted physical and verbal
sexual advances and how to say "no" to unwanted sexual advances, and shall include
information about sexual assault, verbal, physical, and visual, including, but not limited to,
nonconsensual sexual advances, nonconsensual physical sexual contact, and rape by an
acquaintance, commonly referred to as "date rape." This course material and instruction
shall contain methods of preventing sexual assault by an acquaintance, including exercising
good judgment and avoiding behavior that impairs good judgment, and shall also encourage
youth to resist negative peer pressure. This course material and instruction also shall
inform pupils of the potential legal consequences of sexual assault by an acquaintance.
Specifically, pupils shall be advised that it is unlawful to touch an intimate part of another
person, as specified in subdivision (d) of Section 243.4 of the Penal Code. Pupils also shall
be taught that it is wrong to take advantage of, or to exploit another person. Course material
and instruction shall also encourage youth to resist negative peer pressure, and shall be
age appropriate.
11. Encourage healthy and caring friendships through honest and positive communication skills,
respect of values and the conflict resolution process.
12. Emphasize that derogatory jokes and slurs are demeaning and destroy the dignity of the
affected individual.
13. Inform students of local, state, and national laws prohibiting sexual harassment.
14. Teach the options available in the event of a pregnancy. Address the lifelong emotional,
physical and psychological concerns of each option.
15. Explain the life cycle of individual growth and development (to include prenatal stages,
infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood).
16. Encourage lifelong monogamous heterosexual marriage through building honest and caring
relationships, positive communication skills, shared values and expectations, and effective
parenting skills.
17. Teach appropriate behavior for prevention of pregnancy and disease to include abstinence
refusal skills and contraception. All such instruction will be grade level appropriate, factually
stated and optional. Condoms and other contraceptives will not be distributed to students.
18. Periodically be evaluated by the Superintendent or designee to ensure they conform to the
California Education Codes and contain the most recent scientific information as required
above. Instruction shall be presented in a manner that is age appropriate for the intended
pupil audience and may be segregated by sex when deemed appropriate.
II. HIV/AIDS AND OTHER SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS CURRICULUM
A. All pupils will be provided with AIDS prevention instruction at least once in grade 7 and 8 and
once in high school. All AIDS prevention instruction shall accurately reflect the latest information,
recommendations and research from the United States Surgeon General, Federal Centers for
Disease Control, and the National Academy of Sciences, and shall include the following
Education Code Section 51201.5 requirements:
1. Information on the nature of AIDS and its effects on the human body.
2. Information on how the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is and is not transmitted,
including information on activities that present the highest risk of HIV infection.
3. Discussion of methods to reduce the risk of HIV infection. This instruction shall emphasize
that sexual abstinence and abstinence from intravenous drug use are the most effective
means for AIDS prevention. All instruction shall include statistics based upon the latest
medical information citing the failure and success rates of condoms and other
contraceptives in preventing sexually transmitted HIV infection and information on other
methods that may reduce the risk of HIV transmission from intravenous drug use. Nothing
in this section shall be construed to supersede Section 51553.
4. Discussion of the public health issues associated with AIDS.
5. Information on local resources for HIV testing and medical care.
6. Development of refusal skills to assist pupils to overcome peer pressure and use effective
decision-making skills to avoid high risk activities.
7. Discussion about societal views of AIDS, including stereotypes and myths regarding
persons with AIDS. This instruction shall emphasize compassion for persons with AIDS.
B. The Governing Board recognizes that abstinence is the only completely effective method of
preventing pregnancy, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and other sexually
transmitted diseases. (Education Code 51229)
III. TRAINING OF TEACHERS
The Governing Board recognizes that high quality staff development is a key factor in effective
instruction. In sex education, the teacher must have a good understanding of the content, a
sensitivity to, and enthusiasm for nurturing the health of each student and encourage abstinence
as an attainable goal. Sex education teachers need special pre-service preparation and training,
as well as continuing professional development opportunities so that they are able to maintain
their knowledge of current medical and factual information and successful instructional
strategies. Correcting expressed misinformation and misconception is always appropriate. The
Governing Board directs the Superintendent to ensure that sex education teachers have
sufficient opportunities for professional development.
IV. PARENT ORIENTATION AND NOTIFICATION
A. The Governing Board recognizes that the content of the family life/sex education curriculum may
conflict with the religious training and beliefs of some parents. Parent orientation and notification
procedures shall include:
1. Notification to parents/guardians of course content, including information on how parents
may preview the materials to be used. Such notification shall be distributed to parents at
least 10 school (or minimum of 14 calendar days) days prior to the commencement of the
instructional program. (Reference California Education Code 51550)
2. Meaningful instructional alternatives for students whose parents or guardians have elected
to excuse them from the specific instruction pursuant to Section 51240 of the California
Education Code, without penalty for course content missed. Meaningful instructional
alternatives shall mean an activity with an instructional objective, directions for the student,
and would require approximately the same amount of time to complete as the activity the
student is missing.
B. The parent permission form approving participation in family life/sex education related instruction
shall be active in nature. This means that a parent signature is required from each student to
indicate parent approval of student participation. Wording shall include requirements of
Education Code 60650.
C. School site principals (of schools containing grades 5-12) shall implement a "Parent Information
Night," once each year, to provide information concerning the family life/sex education program.
Principals shall implement an aggressive campaign to involve as many parents as possible and
such "Parent Information Night" may be held in conjunction with other activities offered by the
PTA, School Site Council, other parent groups, and public agencies.
V. GUEST SPEAKERS AND PRESENTATIONS
A. The Governing Board recognizes that guest speakers and presentations can provide a valuable
supplemental learning experience for students. The Governing Board believes that guest
speakers must be selected carefully and in the best interest of students. The Governing Board
recognizes that guest speakers and presentations can be perceived as controversial by
promoting a partisan viewpoint. It is the professional responsibility of teachers to refrain from
using the classroom to indoctrinate students with their own personal, political and/or religious
views. The following guidelines are established to assist in the selection of guest speakers:
1. The guest speaker reinforces the concepts and philosophy of this policy and the course
goals and objectives.
2. A description of the presentation, supplementary materials and handouts shall be submitted
to the principal for prior approval.
3. The guest speaker presents information that is age appropriate.
4. The guest speaker can maintain the students' interest for the length of the presentation.
5. If guest speaker materials have not already been presented at the parent orientation, an
opportunity shall be provided to the parents to review the guest speaker's presentation and
material at least 10 days in advance of the speaking engagement.
6. If not already identified in the initial parent permission form, an additional active parent
permission form that thoroughly describes the guest speaker's presentation is completed by
the parent or guardian.
NOTE: Student expression of their religious and personal beliefs will be protected. Protected student
expression does not include jokes or slurs which are demeaning or any remarks which are
intended to be derogatory or harassing in nature.
References:
Penal Code, Section 261.5
Education Code Sections 212.5, 44806, 48980, 48985, 51002, 51201.5, 51202, 51210, 51229, 51240,
51500, 51501, 51550, 51553, 51820, 51890, 51891, 60044, 60045, 60650.
DATE POLICY ADOPTED BY THE BOARD: December 7, 1995
APPENDIX A
GUIDELINES FOR THE DISCUSSION OF SEX EDUCATION ISSUES
I. TOPIC: HOMOSEXUALITY
Course material and instruction may include that:
1. Homosexuality is defined as the feeling of sexual attraction to those of the same sex as
oneself.
2. Family values and monogamous, heterosexual relationships are affirmed throughout the
program, as well as the dignity of all individuals.
3. There are differing opinions on why some people are homosexual:
(a) Homosexuality is biological
(b) Homosexuality is learned from a person's environment
(c) Homosexuality is a combination of biological and environmental factors
(d) There is no conclusive research at this time
4. Religious and personal beliefs about sexual orientation are the prerogatives of the family
and should be dealt with at home.
5. Feelings of affection for persons of the same sex are not necessarily an indication of
homosexuality.
6. Adolescents with questions about homosexuality will be encouraged to talk with their
parents.
APPENDIX B
GUIDELINES FOR THE DISCUSSION OF SEX EDUCATION ISSUES
I. TOPIC: MASTURBATION
Course material and instruction may include that:
1. Masturbation is defined as touching one's own genitals for sexual stimulation.
2. Some people masturbate, some do not.
3. Religious and personal beliefs about masturbation are the prerogatives of the family and
should be dealt with at home.
4. There is no scientific evidence to indicate that masturbation causes physical harm.
5. Adolescents with questions about masturbation will be encouraged to talk with their parents.