|
By Ms. Grant of Beverly, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2108) of Mary E. Grant and others relative to local control of health education curriculum. Public Health. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
——————
PETITION OF:
|
By Ms. Grant of Beverly, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2108) of Mary E. Grant and others relative to local control of health education curriculum. Public Health. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
——————
PETITION OF:
Christine E. Canavan
John D. Keenan
Joyce A. Spiliotis
Bruce E. Tarr
Barbara A. L'Italien
Jennifer M. Callahan
John W. Scibak
Steven M. Walsh
Patricia A. Haddad
——————
In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.
——————
|
An Act relative to local control of health education curriculums. |
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 32A the following new section:—
Section 32B. It is hereby established that every public school district shall
establish a Health Educational Curriculum Committee, made up of school
department employees, parents, and other members of the community(ies)
comprising that school district, to research and make recommendations on a
comprehensive, age appropriate, factually and medically accurate health
education curriculum for grades K-12 to the school committee on or before August 31, 2007; provided,
however, that any school district that has substantially met the requirements
herein prior to the effective date of this act shall submit documentation to
the department of education demonstrating said compliance; and, provided
further, that the department of education upon receipt of said documentation
shall determine whether said school district has substantially complied with
the requirements herein. In assessing compliance, the department of education
must determine whether the curriculum framework recommended includes priority
public health problems as reported by the department of public health for the
age group and region. Health education curriculum committees shall receive
funding subject to appropriation for any administrative costs from grants
provided to cities and towns and regional school districts for school based
comprehensive health education and human services in schools.
Every school district shall adopt a policy ensuring parental/guardian notification of the contents of its health education curriculum and policy of exemption as provided for in section 32A.
To the extent practicable, health curriculum program materials shall be made reasonably accessible to parents, guardians, educators, school administrators, and others for inspection and review.