Title 20, Chapter 2, Section 143
( 20-2-143)
(a) Each local board of education shall prescribe a course of study
in sex education and AIDS prevention instruction for such grades and
grade levels in the public school system as shall be determined by
the State Board of Education. Such course of study shall implement
either the minimum course of study provided for in subsection (b) of
this Code section or its equivalent, as approved by the State Board
of Education. Each local board of education shall be authorized to
supplement and develop the exact approach of content areas of such
minimum course of study with such specific curriculum standards as
it may deem appropriate. Such standards shall include instruction
relating to the handling of peer pressure, the promotion of high
self-esteem, local community values, the legal consequences of
parenthood, and abstinence from sexual activity as an effective
method of prevention of pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases,
and acquired immune deficiency syndrome. (b) The State Board of Education shall prescribe a minimum course of
study in sex education and AIDS prevention instruction which may be
included as a part of a course of study in comprehensive health
education for such grades and grade levels in the public school
system as shall be determined by the state board and shall establish
standards for its administration. The course may include
instruction concerning human biology, conception, pregnancy, birth,
sexually transmitted diseases, and acquired immune deficiency
syndrome. The course shall include instruction concerning the legal
consequences of parenthood, including, without being limited to, the
legal obligation of both parents to support a child and legal
penalties or restrictions upon failure to support a child,
including, without being limited to, the possible suspension or
revocation of a parent's driver's license and occupational or
professional licenses. A manual setting out the details of such
course of study shall be prepared by or approved by the State School
Superintendent in cooperation with the Department of Human
Resources, the State Board of Education, and such expert advisers as
they may choose. (c) The minimum course of study to be prescribed by the State Board
of Education pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code section shall
be ready for implementation not later than July 1, 1988. Each local
board shall implement either such minimum course of study or its
equivalent not later than July 1, 1989. Any local board of
education which fails to comply with this subsection shall not be
eligible to receive any state funding under this article until such
minimum course of study or its equivalent has been implemented. (d) Any parent or legal guardian of a child to whom the course of
study set forth in this Code section is to be taught shall have the
right to elect, in writing, that such child not receive such course
of study. |