SB 695, as amended, De León. School curriculum: health education: sexual harassment and violence instruction.
Existing law requires the Instructional Quality Commission, during the next revision of the publication “Health Framework for California Public Schools,” to consider including a distinct category on sexual abuse and sex trafficking prevention education, as specified.
This bill would require the commission to consider including a distinct category for grades 9 to 12, inclusive, on sexual harassment and violence, as specified, when that health framework is next revised after January 1, 2016. The bill would require the commission, if the commission includes a sexual harassment and violence category in the health framework, to comply with specified conditions.
Existing law requires each pupil completing grade 12 to satisfy certain requirements as a condition of receiving a diploma of graduation from high school. These requirements include the completion of designated coursework in grades 9 to 12, inclusive. Existing law authorizes a governing board of a school district to adopt other coursework requirements.
This bill would require the governing board of a school district that has elected to require its pupils to complete a course in health education for graduation from high school to include instruction in sexualbegin delete assaultend deletebegin insert harassmentend insert and violence, as specified, and ensure that teachers consult information related to sexual harassment and violence in the health framework when delivering health instruction.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 33544 is added to the Education Code,
2to read:
(a) When the “Health Framework for California Public
4Schools” (health framework) is next revised after January 1, 2016,
5the commission shall consider including a distinct category for
6grades 9 to 12, inclusive, on sexual harassment and violence that
7includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
8(1) Information on different forms of sexual harassment and
9violence, including instances that occur among peers and in a
10dating relationship; a discussion of prevention strategies; how
11pupils report sexual harassment and violence; and potential
12resources victims can access.
13(2) Discussion of the affirmative
consent standard, as defined
14in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 67386, and skills
15pupils use to establish boundaries in peer and dating relationships.
16(3) Discussion of legal aspects of sexual harassment and
17violence under state and federal law.
18(b) If the commission includes a sexual harassment and violence
19category in the health framework, the commission shall comply
20with both of the following:
21(1) Ensure information included in the framework is
22research-based and appropriate for pupils of all races, genders,
23sexual orientations, gender identities, and ethnic and cultural
24backgrounds. This may include, but shall not be limited to,
25reviewing otherbegin delete stateend deletebegin insert
statesend insertbegin insert’end insert curriculum.
26(2) Consult with secondary health teachers and experts in sexual
27harassment and violence curriculum.
Section 51225.36 is added to the Education Code, to
29read:
(a) If the governing board of a school district
31requires a course in health education for graduation from high
P3 1school, the governing board of the school district shall include
2instruction in sexualbegin delete assaultend deletebegin insert harassmentend insert and violence, including,
3but not limited to, information on the affirmative consent standard,
4as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 67386.
5(b) If the governing board of a school district provides
6instruction pursuant to subdivision (a), the governing board of the
7school
district shall ensure teachers consult information related to
8sexual harassment and violence in the Health Framework for
9California Public Schools when delivering health instruction.
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