§ 16-22-17 - AIDS education program. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 16-22-17

   § 16-22-17  AIDS education program. –(a) The department of elementary and secondary education shall, pursuant torules promulgated by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education andthe director of the department of health, establish comprehensive AIDS(acquired immune deficiency syndrome) instruction, which shall provide studentswith accurate information and instruction on AIDS transmission and prevention,and which course shall also address abstinence from sexual activity as thepreferred means of prevention, as a basic education program requirement.

   (b) Upon written request to the school principal, a pupil notless than eighteen (18) years of age or a parent or legal guardian of a pupilless than eighteen (18) years of age, within a reasonable period of time afterthe request is made, shall be permitted to examine the curriculum programinstruction materials at the school in which his or her child is enrolled.

   (c) A parent or legal guardian may exempt his or her childfrom the program by written directive to the principal of the school. No childso exempted shall be penalized academically by reason of the exemption.