2422 COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION
 
The Board of Education requires all students to participate in a comprehensive, sequential, health and physical education program aligned with the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) that emphasizes the natural interdisciplinary connection between wellness and health and physical education.  The primary focus of the NJSLS is the development of knowledge and skills that influence healthy behaviors within the context of self, family, school, and the local and global community. 

The  curriculum requirements listed below address the need for students to gain knowledge and skill in caring for themselves, interacting effectively with others, and analyzing the impact of choices and consequences.  The primary focus of the curriculum listed below is to help students develop concepts and skills that promote and influence healthy behaviors.
 
The NJSLS incorporate New Jersey statutes related to health and well-being of students in New Jersey schools.  The following statutes incorporated into the NJSLS include, but are not limited to, the following requirements:
 
1.     	Accident and Fire Prevention (N.J.S.A. 18A:6-2) requires regular courses of  instruction in accident and fire prevention.
 
2.     	Breast Self-Examination (N.J.S.A. 18A:35-5.4) requires  offering instruction on breast self-examination for students in grades seven through twelve. 
 
3.     	Bullying Prevention Programs (N.J.S.A. 18A:37-17) requires the establishment of bullying prevention programs. 
 
4.     	Cancer Awareness (N.J.S.A. 18A:40-33) requires the development of a school program on cancer awareness by the Commissioner of Education. 
 
5.     	Dating Violence Education (N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.23a) requires instruction regarding dating violence in grades seven through twelve.  

6.     	Domestic Violence Education (N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.23) allows instruction on problems related to domestic violence and child abuse. 
 
7.     	Gang Violence Prevention (N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.26) requires instruction in gang violence prevention for elementary school students.  
 
8.     	Health, Safety, and Physical Education (N.J.S.A. 18A:35-5) requires that all students in grades one through twelve participate in at least two and one-half hours of health, safety, and physical education each school week.  

9.     	Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco, Controlled Dangerous Substances, and Anabolic Steroids (N.J.S.A. 18A:40A-1) requires instructional programs on drugs, alcohol, anabolic steroids, tobacco, and controlled dangerous substances and the development of curriculum guidelines for each grade Kindergarten through twelve.  

10.   	Lyme Disease Prevention (N.J.S.A. 18A:35-5.1 through 5.3) requires the development of Lyme Disease curriculum guidelines and training to all teaching staff members who instruct students with Lyme Disease.  

11.   	Organ Donation (N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-4.3) requires information relative to organ donation to be given to students in grades nine through twelve.  
 
12.   	Sexual Assault Prevention (N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.3) requires the development of a sexual assault prevention education program by the Commissioner of Education for utilization by school districts.  
 
13.   	Stress Abstinence (N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.19 through N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.22), also known as the “AIDS Prevention Act of 1999,” requires sex education programs to stress abstinence.  
 
14.   	Suicide Prevention (N.J.S.A. 18A:6-111 through 113) requires instruction in suicide prevention in public schools.

15.   	Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)/Automated External Defibrillator (AED) (N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.28 and 18A:35-4.29) requires public high schools and charter schools to provide instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator to each student prior to graduation. 
16.   	Sexually Explicit Images through Electronic Means (N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.32 and 4.33) requires instruction, once during middle school, on the social, emotional, and legal consequences of distributing and soliciting sexually explicit images through electronic means. 

17.	History of Disabled and LGBT Persons (N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.35 and 4.36) requires instruction on the political economic, and social contributions of persons with disabilities and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people for middle an high school students.

18.	Financial Literacy (N.J.S.A.) 18A:35-4.34) requires instruction with basic financial literacy necessary for sound financial decision-making in each of the grades six through eight.

19.	Sexual Abuse and Assault Awareness and Prevention Education (N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.5a) requires age-appropriate sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention education in grades preschool through twelve.

20.	Curriculum to Include Instruction on Diversity and Inclusion (N.J.S.A.) 18A:35-4.36a) requires instruction on diversity and inclusion in an appropriate place in the curriculum for students in grades Kindergarten through twelve.

21.	Incorporation of Age-Appropriate Instruction Relative to Consent for Physical Contact and Sexual Activity (N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.38) requires age-appropriate instruction in grades six through twelve on the law and meaning of consent for physical contact and sexual activity.

22.	Health Curriculum to Include Instruction on Mental Health (N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.39) requires health education programs to include instruction on mental health and the relation of physical and mental health for students in grades Kindergarten through twelve.

23.	Information About “New Jersey Safe Haven Infant Protection Act” Included in Public School Curriculum (N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.40) information on the provisions of the “New Jersey Safe Haven Infant Protection Act” shall be included in  curriculum for public school students in grades nine through twelve.

24.	Infusion of African American Accomplishments into School Curricula (N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.43) requires in the curriculum for all elementary and secondary students instruction that infuses into all courses on the United States the centuries of accomplishments by African Americans in the building and development of America.

25.	Other Statutory or Administrative Codes.  The Board will incorporate into its health and physical education curriculum any other requirements of the NJSLS in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.
 
In accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.7, any student whose parent presents to the Principal a signed statement that any part of the instruction in health, family life education, or sex education is in conflict with his/her conscience or sincerely held moral or religious beliefs shall be excused from that portion of the course where such instruction is being given and no penalties as to credit or graduation shall result.
 
The Board of Education must provide two and one-half hours of health, safety, and physical education courses in each school week, or proportionately less when holidays fall within the week.  Recess period(s) shall not be used to meet the requirements of N.J.S.A. 18A:35-5, 7, and 8. 

In accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.31, the Board of Education shall provide a daily recess period of at least twenty minutes for students in grades Kindergarten through five.  A recess period is not required on a school day in which the day is substantially shortened due to a delayed opening or early dismissal.  The recess period shall be outdoors, if feasible.  A student shall not be denied recess for any reason, except as a consequence of a violation of the school district’s Code of Student Conduct, including a harassment, intimidation, or bullying (HIB) investigation pursuant to N.J.S.A.        18A:37-13 et seq.  Students may not be denied recess more than twice per week for a violation of the Code of Student Conduct or HIB investigation and these students shall be provided restorative justice activities during the recess period.  Restorative justice activities mean activities designed to improve the socioemotional and behavioral responses of students through the use of more appropriate and less punitive interventions thereby establishing a more supportive and inclusive school culture.  The student’s recess period should be scheduled in a manner that does not interfere with the implementation of a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).  School staff may deny recess for a student on the advice of a medical professional, school nurse, or the provisions of a student’s IEP and/or 504 Plan.

A copy of the NJSLS for Comprehensive Health and Physical Education and all related curriculum/course guides and instructional material shall be available for public inspection in each school.

Date Adopted: 12/15/80
Date Revised: 3/18/91; 7/21/97, 10/18/16, 3/19/19, 4/28/20, 9/21/21