The Board is committed to a comprehensive health education program which will serve as an integral part of each student's general education. The health education program should emphasize information, skills, and knowledge necessary for students to understand and appreciate the functioning and proper care of the human body and encourage the development of lifelong, positive health habits.
The District recognizes that physical, social, emotional, and mental health are significant factors in one's development. In a school situation, mental and physical health play an important role in the academic and social development of students. Consistent, skills-focused, and standards-based health education for all students increases their readiness and ability to learn. The District believes that integrated health education is essential for all students to be career and college ready.
An evidence-informed, comprehensive health education program, increases students' knowledge and skills related to physical, social, emotional, and mental health, is instructive regarding accessing reliable health and wellness resources, and improves a student's decision-making and communications skills.
II. Program Requirements
Comprehensive health education includes a planned, sequential health program of learning experiences in preschool through grade twelve, which shall be integrated across elementary, middle, and high school grade levels. The District's health education program, including comprehensive human sexuality education, shall be age-appropriate, culturally and linguistically sensitive, and medically accurate, as defined by Colorado law.
The health education program shall:
Adoption Date: November 08, 2004
Last Revised: April 08, 2024
- Be available to all students;
- Encourage involvement of families, parents, and guardians; and
- Provide instruction that addresses the skills, topics and content outlined in Colorado Academic Standards and that is based on state and federal statutes.
- Instructional materials to be used in health education courses shall be available for review and inspection upon request either at District schools or through the District website. As appropriate, a public forum shall be scheduled in conjunction with the District Accountability Committee to receive feedback for major revisions to the curriculum due to statutorily mandated updates to state standards for health education materials.
- Parents/guardians of students shall be notified when the fifth-grade human growth and development unit, and secondary level healthy relationships units have been scheduled. Parents shall also be notified that they may request that their student be exempt from a specific portion of the program on the grounds that it is contrary to their religious or closely held personal beliefs. Exemptions from health education classes shall be afforded in accordance with Board Policy IMBB - Exemptions from Required Instruction.
- Teachers who provide instruction in comprehensive human sexuality education shall have professional development in said subject matter.
| Cross References: | ADF – School Wellness |
| IGA – Curriculum Development | |
| IMBB – Exemptions from Required Instruction | |
| IKF – Graduation Requirements | |
| JB – Equal Educational Opportunities | |
| Legal References: | 20 U.S.C. § 7906 (prohibited uses of Title I funds in health education) |
| C.R.S. § 22-1-128 (education regarding human sexuality) | |
| C.R.S. § 22-25-101 et seq. (Colorado Comprehensive Health Education Act) | |
| C.R.S. § 22-25-106(4) (district must provide exemption procedure) | |
| C.R.S. § 22-25-110(2) (operation of alternative health education programs) | |