Health - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Oregon Department of Education

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Health - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Find the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Health Education below.

1. Are there state content standards for health education?

The State Board of Education adopted Oregon Health Education Content Standards on February 17, 2005. Schools had two years to align their curriculum to the standards. Copies of the standards can be downloaded from Standards by Design.

2. Is there a required or recommended amount of time students are to be taught health education?

School districts are required to provide a planned board-adopted K-12 instructional program that includes the Health Education Common Curriculum goals (OAR's 581-022-1210 & 581-022-1030). The amount of instructional time is set by the district. There are no guidelines required or recommended in State Statutes. One unit of health is required to graduate from high school (OAR 581-022-1130).

3. Is there any specific content area required?

There are several state laws and administrative rules that require instruction typically done in the health education classroom.

OAR 581-022-0413 requires a K-12 plan of instruction for providing alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention.

OAR 581-022-1440 requires that schools teach comprehensive sexuality education, HIV/AIDS/STD and Hepatitis B prevention education K-12, with annual instruction in the 6th - 8th grades and at least twice during grades 9-12.

SB 517 requires that schools teach about anabolic steriods and performance enhancing substancesin grades K-12.

SB 379 under ORS 501 requires education providers to make training designed to prevent child abuse available to children attening a school operated by the education provider. Providing training for school employees, parents and legal guardians is also required under SB 379.
See also the Health Legislation page at http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=1543

4. Does ODE provide assistance to school districts on health education issues?

There are mulitple resources for health education at ODE. We provide:

information on the Standards and Common Curriculum Goals,
state-approved health education textbooks,
requirements regarding the health education textbook adoption processes, and
on-site assistance to school districts on HIV/AIDS/STD and Hepatitis B prevention education.

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