Policy No. 4250: Sex Education Instruction

Sex Education Instruction 

Introduction 

The Cache County School Board recognizes that the primary responsibility for sex education rests with a student’s primary caregivers. The district also recognizes its responsibility, as outlined by the Utah State Board of Education to provide an appropriate, supportive, and factual sex education curriculum for students. 

Definitions 

1. Sex Education Instruction or Instructional Program means any course material, unit, class, lesson, activity, or presentation that provides instruction or information to students about sexual abstinence, human reproduction, reproductive anatomy, physiology, pregnancy, marriage, childbirth, parenthood, contraception, HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases. While these topics are most likely discussed in such courses as health education, health occupations, human biology, physiology, parenting, adult roles, psychology, sociology, child development, and biology, this rule applies to any course or class in which these topics are the focus of discussion. 
2. Maturation Education means instruction and materials used to provide fifth or sixth-grade students with age-appropriate, accurate information regarding the physical and emotional changes associated with puberty, to assist in protecting students from abuse and to promote hygiene and good health practices. 
3. Medically accurate means verified or supported by a body of research conducted in compliance with scientific methods and published in journals that have received peer review (where appropriate), and recognized as accurate and objective by professional organizations and agencies with expertise in the relevant field, such as the American Medical Association. 
4. Sex Education Curriculum Materials Review Committee (Review Committee) means a committee formed at the district level, as determined by the Cache School District Administration, that includes parents, health professionals, school health educators, and administrators, with at least as many parents as school employees. 
5. Parental Notification Form means a form developed by the Utah State Board of Education and used exclusively by Utah public schools for parental notification of subject matter identified in this rule. Students may not participate in sex education instruction, maturation education, or instructional programs without prior affirmative parent/guardian response on file. 

Health and Sex Education Guidelines 

1. The Cache County School District Board of Education adopts for use in the schools of the district the sex education instructional materials recommended by the Utah State Board of Education and any additional materials as approved by the Review Committee.

Policy Series 4000: Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment 

1. All sex education shall stress the importance of abstinence from all sexual activity before marriage and fidelity after marriage as methods of preventing sexually transmitted diseases. The curriculum and education shall also stress personal skills that encourage the individual choice of abstinence and fidelity in marriage. 
2. Nothing in this policy precludes an educator from responding to a spontaneous question provided that the response is consistent with this policy. 
3. The following may not be taught in any district schools: 
4. The intricacies of intercourse, sexual stimulation, or erotic behavior; 
5. The advocacy of premarital or extramarital sexual activity; 
6. The advocacy or encouragement of the use of contraceptive methods or devices 

Teacher Responsibilities 

Cache County School District Board of Education requires that any teacher who is responsible for any aspect of sex education will: 

1. Complete a state-sponsored sex education training every three years and provide their certificate to the district. 
2. Assure that any instructional materials used in any sex education instruction are medically accurate and comply with state law, Utah Administrative Code, and are approved by the Review Committee. 
3. Assure that they review all instructional materials for guest speakers, guest presenters, or outside agencies & ensure that they comply with state law, Utah Administrative Code, and are approved by the Review Committee. 
4. Complete parent permissions for any sex education instruction presented in class up to two weeks in advance. 
5. Save and file parent permission forms for a reasonable period-of-time defined as one-year by the Cache County School District. 
6. Assure that as a teacher, they are in the room for any sex education instruction that takes place in their classroom. 
7. Report any complaints or concerns that are received about sex education programs, policies, or materials, that have not been resolved by the teacher or school 

administration to the Review Committee. 

Sex Education Curriculum Materials Review Committee 

1. The Cache County Board of Education shall appoint a Sex Education Curriculum Materials Review Committee. The committee shall be composed of parents, health professionals, school health educators, and administrators, with at least as many parent members as school employee members. B. Duties of the Review Committee 
2. Review instructional materials to assure that they are medically accurate and comply with state law and Utah Administrative Code; 
3. Review instructional materials for guest speakers, special programs, and resource agencies used in any sex education presentation to assure they are medically accurate and comply with state law and Utah Administrative Code;

Cache County School District 

Policy Series 4000: Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment 

3. Hear appeals, complaints, or other special matters pertaining to existing sex education programs, policies, or materials that have not been resolved at the school level; 
4. Submit a written report to the board which summarizes the work performed by the committee if any complaints or concerns were received by the district related to the district’s sex education instruction or instructional programs. 

Parental Permission Form Required for Participation 

1. Students may not participate in any sex education instruction or instructional programs unless prior to the student’s participation the student’s parent or guardian authorizes the student to participate. 
2. Completed permission forms shall be maintained at the school for a one-year period, or until the course is taught the following academic year. 
3. Cache County School District schools will utilize the Parent/Guardian Consent Form for Sex Education Instruction which: 
4. Explains a parent’s right to review proposed curriculum materials in a timely manner; 
5. Requests the parent’s permission to instruct their child in identified course material related to sex education; 
6. Allows the parent to exempt their child from attendance for class periods while identified course material related to sex education is presented and discussed; 4. Is specific enough to give parents fair notice of topics to be covered; 
7. Includes a brief explanation of the topics and materials to be presented and provides a time, place, and contact person for a review of the identified curricular materials; 

6. If a student is exempted from the course material required by the  board-approved core curriculum, the parent will take responsibility in  cooperation with the teacher and the school for the student learning the  required course material. In addition, the student will receive an alternative assignment of equal value and will be expected to complete that assignment. The student will be provided a safe, supervised place within the school during this class. It will be his/her responsibility to report to the pre-arranged location, check-in with the teacher or supervisor, and submit the completed assignment to the appropriate person. 

Instructional Staff Training 

1. In their first year of service or assignment, all newly hired or newly assigned district staff who have responsibility for any aspect of sex education instruction in the district must participate in a state sponsored training outlining the sex education curriculum and the criteria for sex education instruction in any courses offered.

Policy Series 4000: Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment 

1. All district staff who have any responsibility for any aspect of sex education instruction in the district will attend state-sponsored training outlining the sex education curriculum and the criteria for sex education instruction in any courses offered at least once every three (3) years. 

Legal References: 

Utah Code 53G-10-402 

Utah Administrative Rule 277-474 

Approved by the Board of Education: 7/20/2017; Last Revised 1/30/2020; Last Reviewed 1/30/2020; Prior Revised Dates: 7/20/2017, 4/25/201 

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