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Policies, Standards, and Guidelines

State Legislation

Florida State Statute 1003.41 Sunshine State Standards: Public K-12 educational instruction in Florida is based on the "Sunshine State Standards." These standards have been adopted by the State Board of Education and delineate the academic achievement of students, for which the state will hold schools accountable, in grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12 in the subjects of language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, the arts, health and physical education, and foreign languages. They include standards in reading, writing, history, government, geography, economics, and computer literacy.

Florida State Statute 1003.42 (2)(n) Required Instruction: (n) Comprehensive health education that addresses concepts of community health; consumer health; environmental health; family life, including an awareness of the benefits of sexual abstinence as the expected standard and the consequences of teenage pregnancy; mental and emotional health; injury prevention and safety; nutrition; personal health; prevention and control of disease; and substance use and abuse.

The following statute refers to graduation requirements for students who enrolled in high school during the 2006-07 school year:

Florida State Statute 1003.43 (1)(i) General Requirements for High School Graduation: (i) One-half credit in life management skills to include consumer education, positive emotional development, marriage and relationship skill-based education, nutrition, parenting skills, prevention of human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome and other sexually transmissible diseases, benefits of sexual abstinence and consequences of teenage pregnancy, information and instruction on breast cancer detection and breast self-examination, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, drug education, and the hazards of smoking.

The following statute refers to graduation requirements for students who enrolled in high school during the 2007-08 year:

Florida State Statute 1003.428 2(a)(6) General requirements for high school graduation; revised. One credit in physical education to include integration of health. (Please note: The Life Management half credit required for graduation becomes an elective and is replaced by this new one-credit course.)

Florida State Statute 1003.46 Health Education; Instruction in Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome:
(1) Each district school board may provide instruction in acquired immune deficiency syndrome education as a specific area of health education. Such instruction may include, but is not limited to, the known modes of transmission, signs and symptoms, risk factors associated with acquired immune deficiency syndrome, and means used to control the spread of acquired immune deficiency syndrome. The instruction shall be appropriate for the grade and age of the student and shall reflect current theory, knowledge, and practice regarding acquired immune deficiency syndrome and its prevention.
(2) Throughout instruction in acquired immune deficiency syndrome, sexually transmitted diseases, or health education, when such instruction and course material contains instruction in human sexuality, a school shall:
(a) Teach abstinence from sexual activity outside of marriage as the expected standard for all school-age students while teaching the benefits of monogamous heterosexual marriage.
(b) Emphasize that abstinence from sexual activity is a certain way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, including acquired immune deficiency syndrome, and other associated health problems.
(c) Teach that each student has the power to control personal behavior and encourage students to base actions on reasoning, self-esteem, and respect for others.
(d) Provide instruction and material that is appropriate for the grade and age of the student.

Maintaining Confidentiality of Student Records

Florida Legislation

Florida State Statute 381.0056 Student Health-Related Records 2002:
Requires health records of individual students to be kept private in accordance with Statute 1002.22(3)(d) (2004) which guarantees every student the right to privacy for all personally identifiable records or reports or information of a student. A state or local educational agency, board, or public school may not permit the release of such records or information without the consent of the student's parent or the student him or herself. The Statute does, however, list persons or organizations to which such records may be released.

Florida State Statute 1006.07(6) Student Health-Related Services 2004:
Requires district school boards to provide for the welfare of students by using the Safety and Security Best Practices (Word) to conduct a self-assessment of the district's current safety and security practices. The self-assessment includes indicators for districts to have procedures if maintaining legal confidentiality of information regarding students exhibiting early warning signs for future violent behavior in place.

Links to Policy and Guidelines Documents

CDC’s Guidelines for Effective School Health Education to Prevent the Spread of AIDS

Someone At School Has AIDS
A Complete Guide to Education Policies Concerning HIV Infection
National Association of State Boards of Education

The Redbook - Online (PDF)
Universal precautions for preventing the spread of blood borne pathogens.
National Education Association

Florida Department of Education