SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO : Schools to Expand Program on AIDS
Capistrano Unified School District trustees Monday unanimously approved adding a new state-mandated AIDS prevention education program to its Family Life Education curriculum.
Under a state law adopted in October, 1991, school districts are required to teach AIDS prevention to students in middle and high school levels starting this fall.
In the Capistrano Unified program, district eighth-graders and ninth-graders will be taught about AIDS prevention sometime in late November or December.
“The legislation is very specific regarding the nature of the information to be provided to students, including abstinence from sexual activity, to avoid HIV/AIDS infection,” William D. Eller, associate superintendent of instruction, said in a report to the trustees. “In addition, teachers must be specially trained to provide this required AIDS-prevention instruction.”
Trustees postponed deciding whether any of the AIDS education classes will take place in a coeducational setting until they know exactly what will be discussed. Officials had proposed discussing only social issues relating to the disease in classes for both boys and girls and segregating them for more explicit discussions.
High school students in the district already have AIDS prevention information available, officials said.
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