AIDS Instruction
The Pennsylvania School Code, § 4.29, requires that public schools in the Commonwealth of PA provide “instruction to students regarding the prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and other life-threatening and communicable diseases shall be given for primary, intermediate, middle school, and high school education.” Connellsville Area School District provides instruction to students on this topic in grades three, five, eight, and eleven.
Instruction must include information about the nature of the disease, the lack of a cure, the ways the disease is transmitted, and how infection can be prevented. According to the PA Code § 4.29, districts may omit instruction in the elementary grades on transmission of the disease through sexual activity. Instruction on the transmission of the disease through sexual activity will be omitted from the third and fifth grade programs in Connellsville Area School District. HIV/AIDS instruction for students in grades three and five will begin in March.
Parents may preview the HIV/AIDS instructional materials, which are available in the offices at all of the buildings.
A subsection of PA Code § 4.29 provides that a school district may excuse pupils from instruction about HIV/AIDS when this instruction conflicts with religious beliefs or moral principles of the parent(s), guardian(s), or of the pupil. In order for a pupil to be excused, a written request from the child’s parent/guardian must be submitted to the building principal. Unless a written request to excuse your son or daughter is received by the building principal, your son or daughter will be instructed according to state regulations.
If you have any questions, please contact the building principal at the following phone numbers:
Bullskin Township Elementary 724-628-6540
Connellsville Area Middle School 724-628-8910
Dunbar Township Elementary 724-628-6330
Connellsville Area High School 724-628-1350
Springfield Clifford N. Pritts Elementary 724-455-3191
Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center 724-626-0236
West Crawford Elementary 724-628-4497