HF 2269 (LSB 5782HH (6) 83)

HOUSE FILE 2269

BY  MASCHER

A BILL FOR

An Act expanding the educational standards to include age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education instruction at the elementary and secondary grade levels.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256.11, subsections 2, 3, and 4, Code Supplement 2009, are amended to read as follows:
   2.  The kindergarten program shall include experiences designed to develop healthy emotional and social habits and growth in the language arts and communication skills, as well as a capacity for the completion of individual tasks, and protect and increase physical well-being with attention given to experiences relating to the development of life skills, age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education, and age-appropriate human growth and development. A kindergarten teacher shall be licensed to teach in kindergarten. An accredited nonpublic school must meet the requirements of this subsection only if the nonpublic school offers a kindergarten program.
   3.  The following areas shall be taught in grades one through six:  English-language arts, social studies, mathematics, science, health, age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education, age-appropriate and research-based human growth and development, physical education, traffic safety, music, and visual art. The health curriculum shall include the characteristics of communicable diseases including acquired immune deficiency syndrome. The state board as part of accreditation standards shall adopt curriculum definitions for implementing the elementary program.
   4.  The following shall be taught in grades seven and eight:  English-language arts; social studies; mathematics; science; health; age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education; age-appropriate and research-based human growth and development; family, consumer, career, and technology education; physical education; music; and visual art. 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. 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 family, consumer, career, and technology education 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, Code Supplement 2009, is amended to read as follows:
   j.  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 comprehensive sexuality education; age-appropriate and research-based human growth and development; substance abuse and nonuse; emotional and social health; 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.

   The state board as part of accreditation standards shall adopt curriculum standards for implementing the program in grades nine through twelve.
EXPLANATION
   This bill expands the state educational standards by adding age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education to the areas which must be taught in kindergarten through grade 12 by school districts and accredited nonpublic schools.