Human Growth and Development Instruction
The School District of Wisconsin Dells
Annual Notices for the 2024-25 School Year
HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT INSTRUCTION
The Board of Education directs that students receive instruction in human growth and development, consistent with Chapter 118.019(2) Wis. Stats, to include the following:
A. Medically accurate and age-appropriate instruction in the following topics:
1. the importance of communication about sexuality between the student and the student's parents or guardians
2. reproductive and sexual anatomy and physiology, including biological, psychosocial, emotional, and intellectual changes that accompany maturation
3. puberty, pregnancy, parenting, body image, and gender stereotypes
4. the skills needed to make responsible decisions about sexuality and sexual behavior throughout the student's life, including how to refrain from making inappropriate verbal, physical, and sexual advances and how to recognize, rebuff, and report any unwanted or inappropriate verbal, physical, and sexual behaviors
5. the benefits of and reasons for abstaining from sexual activity
Instruction under this subdivision shall stress the value of abstinence as the only reliable way to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections and shall identify the skills necessary to remain abstinent
6. the health benefits, side effects, and proper use of contraceptives and barrier methods approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration to prevent pregnancy and barrier methods approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration to prevent sexually transmitted infections
7. methods for developing healthy life skills, including setting goals, making responsible decisions, communicating, and managing stress
8. how alcohol and drug use affect responsible decision making
9. the impact of media and one's peers on thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to sexuality
10. adoption resources, prenatal care, and postnatal supports
11. the nature and treatment of sexually transmitted infections
B. use instructional methods and materials that do not discriminate against a student based upon the student's race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or ethnic or cultural background or against sexually active students or children with disabilities
C. address self-esteem, personal responsibility, healthy relationships, and positive interpersonal skills, with an emphasis on healthy relationships
D. identify counseling, medical, and legal resources for survivors of sexual abuse and assault, including resources for escaping violent relationships
The District Administrator will ensure that any instruction provided under this policy also includes instruction in the same year, when age-appropriate, that fulfills the requirements of Chapter 118.019(2r) Wis. Stats. as listed below:
A. presents abstinence from sexual activity as the preferred choice of behavior for unmarried students;
B. emphasizes that abstinence from sexual activity before marriage is the only reliable way to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome;
C. provides instruction in parental responsibility and the socioeconomic benefits of marriage for adults and their children;
D. explains pregnancy, prenatal development, and childbirth;
E. explains the criminal penalties for engaging in sexual activities involving a child under Ch. 948;
F. explains the sex offender registration requirements under Section 301.45;
Instruction under this paragraph shall include who is required to report under s. 301.45, what information must be reported, who has access to the information reported, and the implications of being registered under Section 301.45.
G. provides medically accurate information about the human papilloma virus and the human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
The Board authorizes the curriculum to include separating students on the basis of gender as determined by the Committee.
A citizens' advisory committee shall be established, in accordance with Board Policy 9140 and 118.019(5), Wis. Stats., in order to ensure the effective participation of staff, parents, health-care professionals, members of clergy, and other residents of the District in the design and implementation of this program area.
The District shall provide parents annually with an outline of the human growth and development program used in their child's grade level as well as information regarding how the parent may inspect the complete program and instructional materials. Prior to use in the classroom, the program shall be made available to parents for inspection.
The District shall notify the parents, in advance of the instruction and give them an opportunity, prior to instruction, to review the complete program and instructional materials and of their right to have their child excused from the instruction. The notice shall state that, in the event a student is excused, that student will still receive instruction under Wis. Stat. 118.01(2)(d)2 c unless exempted and under Wis. Stat. 118.01(2)(d)8.