In accordance with Michigan statute, the Board of Education authorizes instruction in sex education. Such instruction may include family planning, human sexuality, and the emotional, physical, psychological, hygienic, economic, and social aspects of family life. Instruction may also include the subjects of reproductive health and the recognition, prevention, and treatment of sexually transmitted disease.

The instruction described in this policy shall stress that abstinence from sex is a responsible and effective method of preventing unplanned or out-of-wedlock pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease and is a positive lifestyle for unmarried young people.

Such instruction shall be elective and not a requirement for graduation.

A student shall not be enrolled in a class in which the subjects of family planning or reproductive health are discussed unless the student's parent or guardian is notified in advance of the course and the content of the course, is given a prior opportunity to review the materials to be used in the course and is notified in advance of his or her right to have the student excused from the class. The Michigan Board of Education shall determine the form and content of the notice required in this policy.

Upon the written request of a student or the student's parent or legal guardian, the student shall be excused, without penalty or loss of academic credit, from attending a class described in this policy. If a parent or guardian submits a continuing written notice, the student will not be enrolled in a class described in this policy unless the parent or guardian submits a written authorization for that enrollment.

The District shall provide the instruction by teachers qualified to teach health education. The Board shall establish a sex education advisory board and shall determine terms of service for the sex education advisory board, the number of members to serve on the advisory board, and a membership selection process that reasonably reflects the District’s population. The Board shall appoint two (2) co-chairs for the advisory board, at least one (1) of whom is a parent of a child attending a District school. At least (one-half) 1/2 of the members of the sex education advisory board shall be parents who have a child attending a District school, and a majority of these parent members shall be individuals who are not employed by a District. The sex education advisory board shall include students of the District, educators, local clergy, and community health professionals. Written or electronic notice of a sex education advisory board meeting shall be sent to each member at least two (2) weeks before the date of the meeting.

The sex education advisory board shall:

Before adopting any revisions in the materials or methods used in instruction under this policy, including, but not limited to, revisions to provide for the teaching of abstinence from sex as a method of preventing unplanned or out-of-wedlock pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease, the Board shall hold at least two (2) public hearings on the proposed revisions. The hearings shall be held at least one (1) week apart and public notice of the hearings shall be given in the manner required for Board meetings. A public hearing held pursuant to this section may be held in conjunction with a public hearing held pursuant to M.C.L. 380.1169.

Each person who provides instruction to K to 12 students in accordance with this policy shall receive training based on District approved standards and in accordance with training requirements of the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).

No person shall dispense or otherwise distribute in a District school or on District school property a family planning drug or device. Additionally, any officer, agent, or employee of the Board is prohibited from referring a student for an abortion or assisting a student in obtaining an abortion.

For purposes of this policy, "family planning" means the use of a range of methods of fertility regulation to help individuals or couples avoid unplanned pregnancies; bring about wanted births; regulate the intervals between pregnancies; and plan the time at which births occur in relation to the age of parents. It may include the study of fetology. It may include marital and genetic information. Clinical abortion shall not be considered a method of family planning, nor shall abortion be taught as a method of reproductive health.

M.C.L 380.1507. 380.1169. 388.1766

Adopted 12/11/17