WMBOE: Policy 6142.1

In compliance with the New Jersey Administrative Code, the West Milford Board of Education directs the Superintendent to coordinate the development of a Family Life Education curriculum grades K-12, which shall include HIV prevention education. The curriculum shall be developed through the active participation of a Family Life Committee. The program shall provide materials that will enhance pupils' understanding of human growth and development. In addition, this program will provide the opportunity for pupils to acquire knowledge which will reinforce a practice of responsible behavior and which will also provide a base of information that will assist pupils in making informed decisions regarding family life matters.

A family life education curriculum which will be in compliance with New Jersey administrative code shall provide material suited to each grade level, presented in a manner intended to foster respect for the human body and an understanding of how human sexuality affects personal and family relationships.

The curriculum, developed under the supervision of the Superintendent with the active participation of teachers, administrators, pupils, parents/guardians, physicians, members of the clergy and representative members of the community, shall be available to all parents/guardians. An outline of the curriculum and list of instructional materials for the grades of their children shall be sent to parents/guardians annually.

The Superintendent shall ensure that the curriculum developed is articulated to that of the elementary school(s), so that the transition from elementary to secondary approaches to this material will be easy for all pupils.

The Board urges all parents/guardians to become familiar with these courses and to participate in their development as provided by the administrative code.

Annually, the Family Life Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Education president following the reorganization meeting. A committee member shall be eligible to serve for a period of time not to exceed three consecutive yearly terms. The only notable exception to exceeding the maximum terms of office would be in the case of insufficient community volunteers for committee assignment.

The Family Life Committee shall be composed of the following fifteen representatives with full voting privileges: a chairperson who is currently serving as a Board of Education member (l), a student representative from each of the four high school grade levels (4), four classroom teachers (4), three citizen members (3), a school district administrator, a member of the clergy, and a representative from the medical profession (3). Every effort shall be made to appoint alternates for: the district administrator, member of the clergy, and representative of the medical profession.

The Family Life Committee will meet at least annually and as needed. A majority of the members must be present in order to constitute a meeting.

Committee members are encouraged to attend all meetings. Any member who accumulates two unexcused absences during a term of office may be subject to dismissal from the committee.

Parents and guardians of pupils enrolled in the district shall receive annually a notification of their child's participation in the program. Notification shall include an outline of the curriculum and a listing of instructional materials appropriate for the child's grade level.

Any child whose parent or guardian presents to the school principal a signed statement that any part of the instruction in Family Life Education, Health or Sex Education is in conflict with the conscience of the parent/guardian or his/her sincerely-held moral or religious beliefs, shall be excused from that course or the portion of that course wherein such instruction is given, and no penalties as to credit or graduation shall result therefrom.

The Board of Education, upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, and the Family Life Committee shall determine content, sequence, and materials of Family Life Education.