SB 695: School curriculum: health education: sexual harassment and violence instruction.

Existing law requires the Instructional Quality Commission, during the next revision of the publication Health Framework for California Public Schools, to consider including a distinct category on sexual abuse and sex trafficking prevention education, as specified.

This bill would require the commission to consider including comprehensive information for grades 9 to 12, inclusive, on sexual harassment and violence, as specified, when that health framework is next revised after January 1, 2016. The bill would require the commission, if the commission includes comprehensive information on sexual harassment and violence in the health framework, to comply with specified conditions.

Existing law requires each pupil completing grade 12 to satisfy certain requirements as a condition of receiving a diploma of graduation from high school. These requirements include the completion of designated coursework in grades 9 to 12, inclusive. Existing law authorizes a governing board of a school district to adopt other coursework requirements.

This bill would require the governing board of a school district that has elected to require its pupils to complete a course in health education for graduation from high school to include instruction in sexual harassment and violence, as specified, and ensure that teachers consult information related to sexual harassment and violence in the health framework when delivering health instruction.