COMMONWEALTH
OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION
P.O.
BOX 2120
RICHMOND,
VIRGINIA 23218-2120
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 132
September 27, 2002
|
TO: |
Division Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Jo Lynne DeMary Superintendent of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
22.1-207.1 of the Code of Virginia regarding
Adoption and Family Life Education |
This memorandum
provides information regarding an amendment to 22.1-207.1 of the Code of Virginia by the 2002 session of
the Virginia General Assembly. Section 22.1-207.1 requires that the Board of
Education include the benefits of adoption as a positive choice in the event
of an unwanted pregnancy in its curriculum guidelines for a comprehensive,
sequential Family Life Education curriculum. In addition, the bill requires the
Board to specify that training teachers of Family Life Education includes
training in instructional elements to support the various curriculum
components.
The 1988 guidelines have been revised to reflect the
requirements of the 2002 legislation. In addition, the revision included the
language abstinence education, to reflect a change in the Code of Virginia in 1999 and delete
reference to inclusion in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) for
handicapped students. (This language is no longer necessary due to changes in
the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act that requires students to
participate in the general curriculum. As a result, there is no need to
specifically identify one component of the general curriculum in the IEP.)
Attached are the revised
guidelines. Within the next few weeks, you will receive the complete document Family
Life Education Board of Education Guidelines for Virginia Public Schools so
that any changes to the local Family Life Education curriculum can be made if
they are needed.
The document may be
downloaded from the website:
/administrators/superintendents_memos/2002/inf132a.pdf
Questions about the Family Life Education program or
the changes to the Code of Virginia may be directed to Fran Anthony Meyer at
(804) 225-4543, (mail to: fmeyer@mail.vak12.ed.edu).
JLD/FAM/tp
/administrators/superintendents_memos/2002/inf132a.pdf
c: Family Life Education Contact Persons