SF 376 (LSB 2483SV (2) 88)

SENATE FILE 376

BY  COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

(SUCCESSOR TO SF 270)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the health education requirement for grades nine through twelve under the education standards.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256.11, subsection 4, Code 2019, is amended to read as follows:
   4.  The following shall be taught in grades seven and eight:  English-language arts; social studies; mathematics; science; health; age-appropriate and research-based human growth and development; career exploration and development; physical education; music; and visual art. Career exploration and development shall be designed so that students are appropriately prepared to create an individual career and academic plan pursuant to section 279.61, incorporate foundational career and technical education concepts aligned with the six career and technical education service areas as defined in  subsection 5, paragraph “h”, and incorporate relevant twenty-first century skills. The health curriculum shall include age-appropriate and research-based information regarding the characteristics of sexually transmitted diseases, including HPV and the availability of a vaccine to prevent HPV, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome; and age-appropriate and research-based information regarding mental health awareness, coping skills, and suicide prevention. The state board as part of accreditation standards shall adopt curriculum definitions for implementing the program in grades seven and eight. However, this subsection shall not apply to the teaching of career exploration and development in nonpublic schools. For purposes of this section, “age-appropriate”, “HPV”, and “research-based” mean the same as defined in section 279.50.
    Sec. 2.  Section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph j, subparagraph (1), Code 2019, is amended to read as follows:
   (1)  One unit of health education which shall include personal health; food and nutrition; environmental health; safety and survival skills; consumer health; family life; age-appropriate and research-based human growth and development; substance abuse and nonuse; emotional and social health, including mental health awareness, coping skills, and suicide prevention; health resources; and prevention and control of disease, including age-appropriate and research-based information regarding sexually transmitted diseases, including HPV and the availability of a vaccine to prevent HPV, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill adds mental health awareness, coping skills, and suicide prevention to the subject matter that must be included in the unit of health education which school districts and accredited nonpublic schools must offer and teach in grades 7-12.