Article 3. Department Of Education of California Education Code >> Division 4. >> Title 2. >> Part 28. >> Chapter 5.5. >> Article 3.
The department shall prepare and distribute to school
districts guidelines for the preparation of comprehensive health
education plans, and, in cooperation with those county offices of
education which desire to participate, assist school districts in
developing comprehensive health education plans and programs. For
this purpose, the department shall assume the following functions and
carry out the following duties:
(a) Assist in the development of model curricula for the public
schools for comprehensive health education programs consistent with
the provisions and intent of approved district comprehensive health
education plans.
(b) Identify innovative teaching methods for the instruction in
health in the public schools.
(c) With the cooperation and assistance of the State Department of
Health, develop methods of evaluating the effectiveness of
instruction in health.
(d) Develop model instructional materials for comprehensive health
education courses and make these materials available to local school
districts.
(e) In cooperation with the Commission on Teacher Credentialing,
assist teacher training institutions in development of courses on
comprehensive health education.
(f) Assist in the development of adult education programs which
include parents, students, and community health agencies and
personnel.
(g) With the cooperation of, and assistance of, the qualified
instructional staffs of state-supported public institutions of higher
education, develop and establish a health education training program
for public school teachers and administrators to provide in-service
training at the local district or regional level.
(a) During the next revision of the publication "Health
Framework for California Public Schools" (health framework), the
Instructional Quality Commission shall consider developing, and
recommending for adoption by the state board, a distinct category on
mental health instruction to educate pupils about all aspects of
mental health.
(b) As used in this section, "mental health instruction" shall
include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(1) Reasonably designed and age-appropriate instruction on the
overarching themes and core principles of mental health.
(2) Defining common mental health challenges such as depression,
suicidal thoughts and behaviors, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder,
eating disorders, and anxiety, including post-traumatic stress
disorder.
(3) Elucidating the services and supports that effectively help
individuals manage mental health challenges.
(4) Promoting mental health wellness, which includes positive
development, social connectedness and supportive relationships,
resiliency, problem solving skills, coping skills, self-esteem, and a
positive school and home environment in which pupils feel
comfortable.
(5) Ability to identify warning signs of common mental health
problems in order to promote awareness and early intervention so
pupils know to take action before a situation turns into a crisis.
This should include instruction on both of the following:
(A) How to appropriately seek and find assistance from mental
health professionals and services within the school district and in
the community for themselves or others.
(B) Appropriate evidence-based research and practices that are
proven to help overcome mental health challenges.
(6) The connection and importance of mental health to overall
health and academic success as well as to cooccurring conditions,
such as chronic physical conditions and chemical dependence and
substance abuse.
(7) Awareness and appreciation about the prevalence of mental
health challenges across all populations, races, ethnicities, and
socioeconomic statuses, including the impact of culture on the
experience and treatment of mental health challenges.
(8) Stigma surrounding mental health challenges and what can be
done to overcome stigma, increase awareness, and promote acceptance.
This shall include, to the extent possible, classroom presentations
of narratives by peers and other individuals who have experienced
mental health challenges, and how they coped with their situations,
including how they sought help and acceptance.
(c) In the normal course of recommending curriculum frameworks to
the state board, as required by Section 60204, the Instructional
Quality Commission shall ensure that one or more experts in the
mental health and educational fields provides input in the
development of the mental health instruction in the health framework.
It is the intent of the Legislature that the Instructional Quality
Commission seek experts from culturally, racially, and ethnically
diverse communities, representatives from all mental health
professions, teachers, counselors, parents, those involved in
promoting mental wellness, and those living with a mental health
challenge and their families.
(d) This section does not require or authorize the Instructional
Quality Commission to recommend new health education content
standards.
(a) (1) The state board shall, based upon recommendations
by the Superintendent, consider including age-appropriate content for
kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, in sexual abuse and
sexual assault awareness and prevention in the next revision of the
health content standards.
(2) The state board shall, based upon recommendations by the
Instructional Quality Commission, consider including information in
sexual abuse and sexual assault awareness and prevention in the
Health Framework for California Public Schools when next revised.
(b) (1) School districts, county offices of education, and charter
schools may provide age-appropriate instruction, pursuant to the
content standards adopted by the state board under subdivision (a),
for kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, as applicable, in
sexual abuse and sexual assault awareness and prevention.
(2) Upon written request of the pupil's parent or legal guardian,
a pupil in kindergarten or grades 1 to 12, inclusive, shall be
excused from taking instruction in sexual abuse and sexual assault
awareness and prevention established pursuant to this section.
The Department of Education shall be responsible for the
preparation and distribution of health education materials and for
providing assistance for in-service teaching programs carried out
with districts that have plans approved pursuant to Section 51911.