Oregon Statutes - Chapter 336 - Conduct of Schools Generally - Section 336.455 - Human sexuality education courses; criteria.

(1) Course material and instruction for all human sexuality education courses that discuss human sexuality in public elementary and secondary schools shall enhance students’ understanding of sexuality as a normal and healthy aspect of human development. Course instruction shall be appropriate for the age of the pupils and satisfy the following criteria:

(a) Be comprehensive.

(b) As an integral part of the health education curriculum, include information about responsible sexual behaviors and hygienic practices that eliminate or reduce the risks of pregnancy, exposure to human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and other infectious or sexually transmitted diseases and shall be designed to allay those fears concerning the risks that are scientifically groundless.

(c) Promote abstinence for school-age youth and mutually monogamous relationships with an uninfected partner for adults as the safest and most responsible sexual behavior. However, abstinence shall not be taught to the exclusion of other material and instruction on contraceptive and disease reduction measures. Human sexuality education courses shall acknowledge the value of abstinence while not devaluing or ignoring those young people who have had or are having sexual intercourse.

(d) Include a discussion of the possible emotional, physical and psychological consequences of preadolescent and adolescent sexual intercourse and the emotional, physical and psychological consequences of unintended pregnancy. Pupils shall be provided with statistics based on the latest medical information regarding both the possible side effects and health benefits of all forms of contraceptives, including the success and failure rates for prevention of pregnancy.

(e) Stress that sexually transmitted diseases are serious possible hazards of sexual contact. Pupils shall be provided with statistics based on the latest medical information regarding the efficacy of contraceptives in preventing human immunodeficiency virus infection and other sexually transmitted diseases.

(f) Advise pupils of the laws pertaining to their financial responsibility for their children.

(g) Advise pupils of the circumstances in which it is unlawful under ORS 163.435 and 163.445 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.

(h) Teach that no form of sexual expression is acceptable when it physically or emotionally harms oneself or others and teach pupils not to make unwanted physical and verbal sexual advances, how to decline unwanted sexual advances or accept the refusal of unwanted sexual advances. Pupils 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.

(i) 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.

(j) Assist students in the development and practice of effective communication skills, the development of self-esteem and the ability to resist peer pressure.

(k) Encourage family communication and involvement and help students learn to make responsible decisions.

(2) Any course in any public elementary and secondary school, the main purpose of which is to teach human sexuality education or human immunodeficiency virus education, or both, shall emphasize that abstinence from sexual contact is the only method that is 100 percent effective against unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and human immunodeficiency virus when transmitted sexually. Abstinence is to be stressed, but not to the exclusion of other material and instruction on contraceptive and disease reduction measures. Such courses are to acknowledge the value of abstinence while not devaluing or ignoring those young people who have had or are having sexual intercourse.

(3) Nothing in this section prohibits instruction in sanitation, hygiene or traditional courses in biology. [1993 c.775 §1]

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Last modified: August 7, 2008