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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
health education; fetal development instruction
Purpose
Requires the State Board of Education (SBE) to require all health education instruction provided to students in grades 7 or 8 include outlined instruction on fetal development. Allows the SBE to require that health education instruction that is provided to students in any of grades 1 through 6 or 9 through 12 include age-appropriate instruction on fetal development.
Background
The SBE must prescribe a minimum course of study, academic standards and competency requirements for common schools and high schools. The SBE-prescribed competency requirements must include the academic standards in at least the areas of reading, writing, mathematics, science and social studies as adopted by the SBE. A school district governing board must prescribe curricula according to the SBE-prescribed academic standards and approve courses of study, units that are recommended for credit and instructional materials. The SBE's rules require students to demonstrate competency in the subject of health and physical education, including mental health (A.R.S. §§ 15-701; 15-701.01; 15-721; 15-722; and A.A.C. R7-2-301).
The SBE, in
adopting the course of study and competency requirements, must require that all
health instruction include mental health instruction. Mental health instruction
may be included in a health course or another existing course and must
incorporate the multiple dimensions of health by including mental health and
the relationship of physical and mental health (A.R.S.
§ 15-701.03).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires the SBE, in adopting the course of study and competency requirements, to require all health education instruction that is provided to students in grades 7 or 8 include instruction on fetal development, including:
a) information about the human reproductive process, pregnancy and infertility; and
b) a description of the growth and development of an unborn child that occurs during each trimester of pregnancy.
2. Allows the SBE to require health education instruction that is provided to students in any of grades 1 through 6 or 9 through 12 include age-appropriate instruction on fetal development.
3. Requires, at the request of a student's parent, a student to be excused from instruction on fetal development.
4. Directs each school district and charter school to provide a description of the course curriculum to all parents and notify all parents of the ability to withdraw the parents' child from the instruction on fetal development.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
ED 2/4/25 DP 6-4-0-2
3rd Read 2/25/25 33-27-0
Prepared by Senate Research
March 17, 2025
MH/SDR/ci