§ 49-6-1302. Curriculum for family life education.

TN Code § 49-6-1302 (2019) (N/A)
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(a)

(1) Beginning with the 1991-1992 school year, if the most recent, annual data maintained by the department of health, state center for health statistics, indicate that pregnancy rates in any county exceeded nineteen and five tenths (19.5) pregnancies per one thousand (1,000) females fifteen (15) through seventeen (17) years of age, then every LEA within the county shall locally devise, adopt, and implement a program of family life education in conformance with the curriculum guidelines established for such programs by this section.

(2) Each LEA that offers a program, course or instruction in sex education shall locally develop and adopt a family life curriculum in compliance with the requirements of this part, or shall adopt the family life curriculum adopted by the state board of education.

(3) Each LEA shall prescribe policies and procedures for the implementation, evaluation, and periodic review of the family life curriculum.

(4) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, failure of an LEA to comply with this subsection (a) shall subject the LEA to the withholding of state funds by the commissioner.

(b) The state board of education shall adopt a complete family life curriculum suitable for implementation by an LEA that fails to develop, adopt, and implement a local curriculum of family life under subsection (a).

(c)

(1) Prior to adopting a family life curriculum adopted by the LEA or the state board of education, each LEA shall conduct at least one (1) public hearing, at which time the program shall be explained to members of the public and the public shall have the opportunity to speak and express their opinions and concerns. The LEA shall schedule a public hearing not less than once each September.

(2) Each LEA shall undertake appropriate measures, whether in a public hearing or in parent conferences, to ensure and maintain the highest level of community and parental support for family life.