HIV and Sexual Health
Education
Healthy Youth Act
(Comprehensive Sexual Health
Education)
The
Healthy Youth Act provides a framework for those districts that choose to
provide sexual health education.
Washington
State Law
In
2007 the Washington State Legislature passed the Healthy Youth Act, also known as HYA (RCW
28A.300.475). The act provides a framework for those schools that choose to
offer sexual health education. As of September 2008, all sexual health
education offered in Washington public schools must meet the following
criteria:
All
instruction and materials used must be:
- medically and scientifically
accurate
- age appropriate
- appropriate for students regardless of
gender, race, sexual orientation, and disability status
- consistent with
the 2005 Guidelines for Sexual Health and Disease Prevention
Abstinence
may not be taught to the exclusion of instruction and materials on FDA approved
contraceptives and other disease prevention methods. In other words, the
instruction must be comprehensive.
The
Healthy Youth Act is associated with WAC 392-410-140.
HIV/AIDS
prevention education is required yearly, beginning in Grade 5.
Washington OSPI Curriculum Instruct/healthfitness/prevention