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A lawsuit filed Tuesday on behalf of
parents contends that Clovis Unified School District’s ninth-grade sex
education curriculum fails to meet California Department of Education (DOE)
guidelines. The textbook used is not on the state-approved list, and supplementary
materials are outdated and do not comply with the state law on comprehensive
sexual health education, said the American Civil Liberties Union. In the
lawsuit, ACLU of Northern California also represents the regional chapter of
the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Gay-Straight Alliance Network.
The course’s content and procedures
for students to participate all are in compliance with state law, the district
said. The suit is “a question of differing interpretations of the depth and
breadth of a school district’s obligation to cover detailed sexual content in
its family life materials,” said Kelly Avants, a district spokesperson. It
“does not accurately describe existing procedures and practices in Clovis
Unified related to parent notification,” Avants said.
The course offers biased and
inaccurate information, said Phyllida Burlingame, ACLU’s reproductive justice
policy director. “Schools should teach teens about building healthy
relationships, the benefits of delaying sexual activity, and accurate
information about condoms,” Burlingame said. The textbook, “Lifetime Health,”
instead emphasizes abstinence until marriage, she said.
DOE approves textbooks from
kindergarten through eighth grade, not for high schools, said Tina Jung, a DOE
spokesperson. Jung would not comment on Clovis Unified course content or the
suit. Avants said the district is permitted to tailor course content to meet
the community’s needs.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
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