Legislation would modify charter school courses to include 'science-based' facts instead of absistence

1. A bill passed by the Colorado Legislature, if signed by Gov. Bill Ritter, likely will force Fort Collins charter schools to modify their sex-education courses from abstinence-based curriculum to one that includes "science-based" facts about sexually transmitted diseases and contraceptives.If House Bill 1292 becomes law, all Colorado school districts, charter schools and institute charter schools that offer curriculum on human sexuality will have to include the advised standards. ADVERTISEMENT
2. The only exception in the state is the Center Consolidated School District, which receives a $39,500 grant from the federal government to teach abstinence-based education under the clause that the money can not be used to teach or promote the use of contraceptives. Charter schools might be able to opt out by petitioning the state Board of Education.The bill unlikely is to lead to any changes in Poudre School District's sex-education curriculum. In 2005, the district incorporated a 10-lesson, comprehensive sexuality curriculum that includes education about sexually-transmitted infections and contraceptives. The courses are opt-in, meaning parents must sign permission slips allowing students to attend the courses."I think the intent of the bill is to spur other districts to do exactly what Poudre School District has done," said Sen. Bob Bacon, D-Fort Collins, who is co-sponsor of the bill. "If (schools) do have a (sexual education) curriculum, they are going to have to adopt a science-based curriculum."Bacon stressed that parents who do not want their children to learn the required curriculum will not be forced into allowing their kids to take the classes."There is always the opt-out option available for parents," he said.Liberty Common and Ridgeview Classical charter schools both offer an opt-in, abstinence-based curriculum. The one-day course, "Why Am I Tempted," or WAIT training, is taught at the schools by trained employees of the Alpha Center, a Christian resource center in Fort Collins."We don't want to talk so much about what you do for safer sex but what you can do for absolute safe sex," said Sharon Hindman, the center's executive director.“What we ask students to do is walk a pathway where there is no risk. Anything outside of waiting until marriage to have a sexual relationship carries a risk with it.”
3. Russ Spicer, head master at Liberty Commons, said he will comply with any state–mandated regulations but would like to check with the school’s legal counsel before adopting any forced curriculum.
4. “We have a lot of waivers that say we have the right to choose our courses,” said Spicer, who emphasized that the course is only an offering at the school and not a requirement. “We think it is a personal choice and something that the family should decide. As a parent I would exercise my right to opt my child out.”
5. The bill’s Senate sponsor, Sue Windels, D-Arvada, said the intent of the bill is not to force curriculum on schools, but to lower the rate of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases in the state.
6. “The intent is to address the fact that we have a pretty high teen-pregnancy rate,” said Windels, who is confident Ritter will sign the bill into law. “We have looked at some of the abstinence-only education and it usually only delays the onset of sexual activity by 18 months.”
7. Windels also said charter schools have flexibility in choosing curriculum.
8. “We have a statute that charter schools can go to the state Board of Education to waive any state–mandated law unless the bill explicitly says it’s not allowed,” she said. “This gives some flexibility to charter schools that want to have a very narrow curriculum.”