Haywood County Middle Schools

Just another Teacher Spaces weblog

Healthy Youth Act

In 2009, the North Carolina General Assembly passed and the Governor signed into law the Healthy Youth Act that requires instruction in Reproductive Health and Safety.  The new legislation is a revision of North Carolina General Statute 115C-81.  Historically speaking, the new legislative content is not new.  During the 1980s the state required public schools to teach about preventing sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy prevention.  Then in the 1990s the state shifted instructional requirements to an “abstinence only” approach.  The newly revised legislative requirements call of a focus on the importance and value of abstinence, information on preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease as well as information on what constitutes sexual assault and information on reporting assaults or abuse.

As we have done for several years, parents will be able to “opt out” (opt their children out of this instruction) if parents prefer to provide the appropriate instruction at home.  Information for “opting out” will be sent home at the beginning of the school year or when your child enters the health and physical education class that includes this required instruction.  Please visit the link listed below for additional information or feel free to contact Haywood County Schools (828-456-2400) or your individual school.

http://www.haywood.k12.nc.us/HCS/hya/healthy-youth-act/