6142.8 AR - Comprehensive Health Education

Instruction     
Administrative Regulation No. 6142.8 
Regulation Reviewed:  August 17, 2006
Regulation Revised: February 12, 2024


COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH EDUCATION

Content of Instruction


The district's health education program shall include instruction at the appropriate grade levels in the following content areas: 

1. Alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs

2. Human growth, development, and sexual health

3. Injury prevention and safety

Instruction related to injury prevention and safety may include, but is not limited to, first aid, protective equipment such as helmets, violence prevention, topics related to bullying and harassment, emergency procedures, and Internet safety, and as required by law.

4. Mental, emotional, and social health

Health education courses offered to middle and/or high school students shall include mental health instruction that meets the requirements of Education Code 51925-51927, as specified in Administrative Regulation 6143 - Courses of Study.
 
5. Nutrition and physical activity

6. Personal and community health

Instruction in personal and community health may include, but is not limited to, oral health, personal hygiene, sun safety, vision and hearing protection, transmission of germs and communicable diseases, symptoms of common health problems and chronic diseases, and the effect of behavior on the environment, and as required by law.

Within each of the above content areas, instruction shall be designed to assist students in developing: 

1. An understanding of essential concepts related to enhancing health
 
2. The ability to analyze internal and external influences that affect health
 
3. The ability to access and analyze health information, products, and services
 
4. The ability to use interpersonal communication skills, decision-making skills, and goal-setting skills to enhance health
 
5. The ability to practice behaviors that reduce risk and promote health
 
6. The ability to promote and support personal, family, and community health

Students Excused from Health Instruction

Upon written request from a parent/guardian, a student shall be excused from any part of health instruction that conflicts with the student's religious training and beliefs, including personal moral convictions.  (Education Code 51240)

The district shall excuse a student from instruction in comprehensive sexual health education and HIV prevention education if the student's parent/guardian requests in writing that the student be excused. However, pursuant to Education Code 51932, such parental request shall not excuse a student from instruction, materials, presentations, or programming that discuss gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, discrimination, harassment, bullying, intimidation, relationships, or family and do not discuss human reproductive organs and their functions. (Education Code 51938)

In addition, the district shall excuse a student from instruction in sexual abuse and/or sexual assault awareness and prevention if the student's parent/guardian requests in writing that the student be excused.  (Education Code 51900.6)

The district shall not administer any exam, survey, or questionnaire which contains questions about the student's or the student's family's personal beliefs or practices in sex, family life, morality, or religion unless the student's parent/guardian has given written permission.  (Education Code 51513)

However, the district may administer anonymous, voluntary, and confidential tests, questionnaires, and surveys containing age-appropriate questions about students' attitudes concerning or practices relating to sex, as long as parents/guardians are notified of the right to request in writing that the student be excused from participation. A student shall be excused from participating in any such research or evaluation tools if the student's parent/guardian requests in writing to excuse the student from participation.  (Education Code 51938)

Involvement of Health Professionals

Health care professionals, health care service plans, health care providers, and other entities participating in a voluntary initiative with the district are prohibited from communicating about a product or service in a way that is intended to encourage persons to purchase or use the product or service. However, the following activities may be allowed:  (Education Code 51890) 

1. Health care or health education information provided in a brochure or pamphlet that contains the logo or name of a health care service plan or health care organization, if provided in coordination with the voluntary initiative
 
2. Outreach, application assistance, and enrollment activities relating to federal, state, or county-sponsored health care insurance programs if the activities are conducted in compliance with the statutory, regulatory, and programmatic guidelines applicable to those programs

Policy Reference Disclaimer:
These references are not intended to be part of the policy itself, nor do they indicate the basis or authority for the board to enact this policy. Instead, they are provided as additional resources for those interested in the subject matter of the policy. 

State Code
5 CCR 11800-11801, District health education plan
Education Code
Ed. Code 35183.5, Sun protection
Ed. Code 49413, First aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation training
Ed. Code 49430-49434, Pupil Nutrition, Health, and Achievement Act of 2001
Ed. Code 49490-49494, School breakfast and lunch programs
Ed. Code 49500-49505, School meals
Ed. Code 51202, Instruction in personal and public health and safety
Ed. Code 51203, Instruction on alcohol, narcotics and dangerous drugs
Ed. Code 51210, Course of study for grades 1-6
Ed. Code 51210.8, Health education curriculum
Ed. Code 51220.5, Parenting skills; areas of instruction
Ed. Code 51225.36, Instruction in sexual harassment and violence; districts that require health education for graduation
Ed. Code 51225.6, Instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation; districts that require health education for graduation
Ed. Code 51260-51269, Drug education
Ed. Code 51513, Personal beliefs
Ed. Code 51880-51881.5, Health education; legislative findings and intent
Ed. Code 51890-51891, Comprehensive health education programs and community participation; definitions
Ed. Code 51900.6, Sexual abuse and sexual assault awareness and prevention instruction
Ed. Code 51913, District health education plan
Ed. Code 51920, Inservice training; health education
Ed. Code 51925-51929, Mandatory mental health education and in-service training
Ed. Code 51930-51939, California Healthy Youth Act
Ed. Code 67386, Student safety; affirmative consent standard
Ed. Code 8850.5, Family relationships and parenting education
Federal Code
42 USC 1751-1769j, School Lunch Program
42 USC 1758b, Local wellness policy
42 USC 1771-1793, Child Nutrition Act
Management Resources
California Department of Education Publication, Health Education Framework for California Public Schools: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve, 2019
California Department of Education Publication, Health Education Content Standards for California Public Schools:  Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve, 2008
CSBA Publication, Integrating Oral Health into School Health Programs and Policies, May 2010
CSBA Publication, Promoting Healthy Relationships for Adolescents: Board Policy Considerations, August 2014
CSBA Publication, Integrating Physical Activity into the School Day, April 2016
CSBA Publication, Preventing Catastrophic Health Illness, Governance Brief, July 2018
CSBA Publication, The Impact of Marijuana Legalization on K-12: The Effect of Marijuana on the Brain, November 2018
CSBA Publication, Why Schools Hold the Promise for Adolescent Mental Health, Governance Brief, May 2019
CSBA Publication, Sun Safety in Schools, Policy Brief, July 2006
CSBA Publication, Asthma Management in the Schools, Policy Brief, March 2008
CSBA Publication, Student Wellness: A Healthy Food and Physical Activity Policy Resource Guide, rev. April 2006
CSBA Publication, Monitoring for Success: A Guide for Assessing and Strengthening Student Wellness Policies, rev. 2012
CSBA Publication, Promoting Oral Health for California's Students: New Roles, New Opportunities for Schools, Policy Brief, November 2008
Human Rights Campaign Foundation Publication, California LGBTQ Youth Report, January 2019
Society of Health & Physical Educators Publication, National Health Education Standards:  Achieving Excellence, rev. November 2012
US Department of Health and Human Services, Social Media and Youth Mental Health: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory, 2023
US Dept of Health and Human Services Publication, Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Health Effects of Social Connection and the Community, 2023
Website, SHAPE America, Society of Health and Physical Educators
Website, CSBA District and County Office of Education Legal Services
Website, Human Rights Campaign Foundation
Website, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Website, American School Health Association
Website, California Association of School Health Educators
Website, California Department of Education, Health Education
Website, National Center for Health Education
Website, National Hearing Conservation Association
Website, California Subject Matter Project, Physical Education-Health Project
Website, Center for Injury Prevention Policy and Practice
Website, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Website, CSBA
Website, California Department of Public Health
Website, California Healthy Kids Resource Center
Cross References, 
0200, Goals For The School District
0415, Equity
0450, Comprehensive Safety Plan
0450, Comprehensive Safety Plan
0470, COVID-19 Mitigation Plan
0500, Accountability
1220, Citizen Advisory Committees
1220, Citizen Advisory Committees
1240, Volunteer Assistance
1240, Volunteer Assistance
1325, Advertising And Promotion
1400, Relations Between Other Governmental Agencies And The Schools
1700, Relations Between Private Industry And The Schools
3513.3, Tobacco-Free Schools
3513.3, Tobacco-Free Schools
3513.4, Drug And Alcohol Free Schools
3514, Environmental Safety
3514, Environmental Safety
3516, Emergencies And Disaster Preparedness Plan
3516, Emergencies And Disaster Preparedness Plan
3543, Transportation Safety And Emergencies
3550, Food Service/Child Nutrition Program
3550, Food Service/Child Nutrition Program
3554, Other Food Sales
3554, Other Food Sales
4131, Staff Development
5020, Parent Rights And Responsibilities
5020, Parent Rights And Responsibilities
5022, Student And Family Privacy Rights
5022, Student And Family Privacy Rights
5030, Student Wellness
5131, Conduct
5131.2, Bullying
5131.2, Bullying
5131.6, Alcohol And Other Drugs
5131.6, Alcohol And Other Drugs
5131.62, Tobacco
5131.62, Tobacco
5131.63, Steroids
5131.63, Steroids
5137, Positive School Climate
5138, Conflict Resolution/Peer Mediation
5141, Health Care And Emergencies
5141, Health Care And Emergencies
5141.21, Administering Medication And Monitoring Health Conditions
5141.21, Administering Medication And Monitoring Health Conditions
5141.22, Infectious Diseases
5141.22, Infectious Diseases
5141.23, Asthma Management
5141.23, Asthma Management
5141.3, Health Examinations
5141.3, Health Examinations
5141.31, Immunizations
5141.31, Immunizations
5141.32, Health Screening For School Entry
5141.4, Child Abuse Prevention And Reporting
5141.4, Child Abuse Prevention And Reporting
5141.5, Mental Health
5141.52, Suicide Prevention
5141.52, Suicide Prevention
5141.6, School Health Services
5141.6, School Health Services
5141.7, Sun Safety
5142, Safety
5142, Safety
5142.2, Safe Routes To School Program
5142.2, Safe Routes To School Program
5145.3, Nondiscrimination/Harassment
5145.3, Nondiscrimination/Harassment
5145.6, Parent/Guardian Notifications
5145.6-E(1), Parent/Guardian Notifications
5145.7, Sexual Harassment
5145.7, Sexual Harassment
5145.9, Hate-Motivated Behavior
5146, Married/Pregnant/Parenting Students
6011, Academic Standards
6020, Parent Involvement
6020, Parent Involvement
6141, Curriculum Development And Evaluation
6141, Curriculum Development And Evaluation
6141.2, Recognition Of Religious Beliefs And Customs
6141.2, Recognition Of Religious Beliefs And Customs
6142.1, Sexual Health And HIV/AIDS Prevention Instruction
6142.1, Sexual Health And HIV/AIDS Prevention Instruction
6142.5, Environmental Education
6142.7, Physical Education And Activity
6142.7, Physical Education And Activity
6143, Courses Of Study
6143, Courses Of Study
6144, Controversial Issues
6145.2, Athletic Competition
6145.2, Athletic Competition
6145.8, Assemblies And Special Events
6146.1, High School Graduation Requirements
6161.1, Selection And Evaluation Of Instructional Materials
6161.1, Selection And Evaluation Of Instructional Materials
6161.1-E(1), Selection And Evaluation Of Instructional Materials
6162.8, Research
6162.8, Research
6163.4, Student Use Of Technology
6163.4-E(1), Student Use Of Technology
6164.2, Guidance/Counseling Services
6172, Gifted And Talented Student Program
6172, Gifted And Talented Student Program
6190, Evaluation Of The Instructional Program

Website by SchoolMessenger Presence. © 2024 SchoolMessenger Corporation. All rights reserved.