8211 - Prevention Instruction

Policy:  Prevention Instruction	Policy Number: 8211
Date of Original Policy: 07/10/2002	Date Revision Adopted: 10/14/2020
Reviewed by Policy Committee: 09/16/2020	Date of Next Review: 09/16/2023
Replacement of Policy Number:

AIDS Instruction in Health Education

The Board of Education shall provide a health education program that will include appropriate instruction for all students concerning Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Accurate information concerning the nature of the disease, methods of transmission, and means of prevention shall be provided in an age-appropriate manner and shall be consistent with community values and will stress that abstinence is the most appropriate and effective premarital protection against AIDS. AIDS instruction for secondary students shall be a part of the required health education curriculum. No student shall be required to receive instruction concerning the methods of prevention of AIDS if the parent or legal guardian has filed with the principal a written request that the student not participate in such instruction, with an assurance that the student will receive this instruction at home.
    
Substance Abuse-Prevention Instruction

The Board of Education recognizes the need to educate students on the hazards of alcohol, tobacco and/or drug abuse. A prevention program will be developed to inform students of:

• Causes for substance abuse;       
• Physical and psychological damage associated with substance abuse;        
• Avoidance of alcohol, tobacco and drugs.       
• Dangers of driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Environmental Conservation Instruction

The Board of Education supports and encourages the development of a District-wide, articulated curriculum of environmental conservation integrated into other program disciplines.  

Fire and Arson Prevention Instruction

The Board of Education directs the administration to provide instruction in fire and arson prevention for all students in each school through the implementation of fire drills.  

Student Safety

Instruction in courses in technology education, science, home and career skills, art and physical education, health, and safety shall include and emphasize safety and accident prevention.  

Safety instruction shall precede the use of materials and equipment by students in applicable units of work in the courses listed above, and instructors shall teach and enforce all safety procedures relating to the particular courses. These shall include the wearing of protective eye devices in appropriate activities.  

Emergency Planning

The School District shall maintain updated plans and operating procedures to be followed in the event of natural or manmade disasters or enemy attack.  Students shall be provided instruction to respond effectively in emergency situations.  Safety plans shall be reviewed annually per PROJECT SAVE legislation.

Instruction on Prevention of Child Abduction

All students in District schools shall receive instruction designed to prevent the abduction of children. Such instruction shall be provided by or under the direct supervision of regular classroom teachers and the Board of Education shall provide appropriate training and curriculum materials for the regular classroom teachers who provide such instruction. However, at the Board's discretion, such instruction may be provided by any other public or private agency.

The Commissioner of Education will provide technical assistance to assist in the development of curricula for such courses of study which must be age appropriate and developed according to the needs and abilities of students at successive grade levels in order to provide awareness skills, information, self-confidence, and support to aid in the prevention of child abduction. For purposes of developing such courses of study, the Board of Education may establish a curriculum council to make recommendations concerning the content and implementation of such courses. Alternatively, the District may utilize courses of instruction developed by consortia of school districts, boards of cooperative educational services, other school districts, or any other public or private agency.  
       
AIDS Instruction:  8 New York Code of Rules and Regulations (NYCRR) Section 135.3(b) (2) and (c) (2)
Substance Abuse: Education Law Section 804
 8 New York Code of Rules and Regulations (NYCRR) Section 135.3(a)
Student Safety: Education Law Section 808
8 New York Code of Rules and Regulations (NYCRR) Sections 107 and 155
Fire and Arson: Education Law Section 808
Civil Preparedness:  New York State
Office of Disaster Preparedness
Prevention of Child Abduction:
Education Law Section 803-a