ORS 336.455
Human sexuality education courses
- criteria
(1)
Each school district shall provide age-appropriate human sexuality education courses in all public elementary and secondary schools as an integral part of the health education curriculum.(2)
Course material and instruction for all human sexuality education courses shall enhance students’ understanding of sexuality as a normal and healthy aspect of human development. Course instruction shall:(a)
Be medically accurate.(b)
Be comprehensive.(c)
Include information about responsible sexual behaviors and hygienic practices that eliminate or reduce the risks of pregnancy and the risks of exposure to human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted infections. Information about those risks shall be presented in a manner designed to allay fears concerning risks that are scientifically groundless.(d)
Promote abstinence for school-age youth and mutually monogamous relationships with an uninfected partner for adults as the most effective way to prevent pregnancy and the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. However, abstinence may not be taught to the exclusion of other material and instruction on contraceptive and infection reduction measures. Human sexuality education courses shall acknowledge the value of abstinence while not devaluing or ignoring those students who have had or are having sexual intercourse.(e)
Include a discussion about the characteristics of the emotional, physical and psychological aspects of a healthy relationship and a discussion about the benefits of delaying pregnancy beyond the adolescent years as a means to better ensure a healthy future for parents and their children. Students shall be provided with statistics based on the latest medical information regarding both the health benefits and the possible side effects of all forms of contraceptives, including the success and failure rates for prevention of pregnancy.(f)
Stress that sexually transmitted infections are serious possible outcomes of sexual contact. Students shall be provided with statistics based on the latest medical information regarding the efficacy of all methods of sexual protection in preventing sexually transmitted infections, including human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.(g)
Provide students with information about Oregon laws that address young people’s rights and responsibilities related to childbearing and parenting.(h)
Advise students of the circumstances in which it is unlawful under ORS 163.435 (Contributing to the sexual delinquency of a minor) and 163.445 (Sexual misconduct) for persons 18 years of age or older to have sexual relations with persons younger than 18 years of age to whom they are not married.(i)
Teach students that no form of sexual expression is acceptable when the expression physically or emotionally harms oneself or others and teach students not to make unwanted physical and verbal sexual advances, how to decline unwanted sexual advances or accept the refusal of unwanted sexual advances. Students shall be taught that it is wrong to take advantage of or to exploit another person. Materials and information shall be presented in a manner sensitive to the fact that there are students who have experienced sexual abuse.(j)
Validate through course material and instruction the importance of honesty with oneself and others, respect for each person’s dignity and well-being, and responsibility for one’s actions.(k)
Assist students in the development and practice of effective communication skills, the development of self-esteem and the ability to resist peer pressure.(L)
Encourage family communication and involvement to help students learn to make responsible decisions.(3)
Any course in any public elementary and secondary school, the main purpose of which is to address human sexuality education or sexually transmitted infections, including human immunodeficiency virus, or both, must emphasize that abstinence from sexual contact is the only method that is 100 percent effective against unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and human immunodeficiency virus when transmitted sexually. Abstinence must be stressed, but not to the exclusion of other material and instruction on contraceptive and infection reduction measures. Courses described in this subsection must acknowledge the value of abstinence while not devaluing or ignoring those students who have had or are having sexual intercourse.(4)
Nothing in this section prohibits instruction in sanitation, hygiene or traditional courses in biology. [1993 c.775 §1; 2009 c.213 §1; 2019 c.280 §6]
Source:
Section 336.455 — Human sexuality education courses; criteria, https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors336.html.
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