Health Education

Code No.: 602.6
HEALTH EDUCATION
Policy: Students in grade levels one through twelve will receive, as part of their health
education, instruction about personal health and safety; food and nutrition; environmental health;
safety and survival skills; consumer health; family life; human growth and development;
substance abuse and non-use, including the effects of alcohol, tobacco, drugs and poisons on the
human body; human sexuality; self-esteem; stress management; interpersonal relationships;
emotional and social health; health resources; prevention and control of disease; and
communicable diseases, including acquired immune deficiency syndrome. The purpose of the
health education program is to help each student protect, improve and maintain physical,
emotional and social well-being.
Beginning no later than in grade seven, characteristics of communicable disease shall include
information about sexually transmitted infections.
The areas stated above are included in health education and the instruction are adapted at each
grade level to aid understanding by the students.
Parents who object to health education instruction in human growth and development may file
a written request that the student be excused from the instruction. The written request will
include a proposed alternate activity or study acceptable to the superintendent. The
superintendent will have the final authority to determine the alternate activity or study.
A program of study, including identified grade-level or content area goals and standards will be
available for parents (guardians) and community.
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 256.11; 279.8; 280.3-.14 (2013).
281 I.A.C. 12.5.
Approved 6/19/89
Reviewed 8/21/95
Revised 12/20/99
Revised 3/01/04
Reviewed 1/5/09
Revised 2/1/16