Pursuant to policies and guidelines adopted by the local school board, public school principals shall develop a method of notifying parents of students in the relevant grades of the content of the instructional materials concerning reproductive health, family life, pregnancy prevention, and of their option to exempt their child from this instruction, and sexually transmitted diseases if instruction in the diseases is presented as a separate component. Notice must be provided sufficiently in advance of a student's enrollment in courses using these instructional materials to allow parents and legal guardians the opportunity to preview the materials and exempt their children.
A public school principal, upon receipt of a statement signed by a student's parent or legal guardian stating that participation by the student in the health education program conflicts with the family's beliefs, shall exempt that student from any portion or all of the units on reproductive health, family life, and pregnancy prevention where any conflicts occur. No student must be penalized as a result of an exemption. School districts shall use procedures to ensure that students exempted from the program by their parents or guardians are not embarrassed by the exemption.
HISTORY: 1988 Act No. 437, Section 3.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Chapter 32 - Comprehensive Health Education Program
Section 59-32-10. Definitions.
Section 59-32-20. Selection or adoption of instruction units by state board required.
Section 59-32-40. Staff development.
Section 59-32-60. Department to ensure compliance; annual district report.
Section 59-32-70. Applicability to private schools.
Section 59-32-80. Penalty for teachers violation of or refusal to comply with chapter.
Section 59-32-90. Restrictions on use of films, pictures, or diagrams.