AB 694

This bill requires schools that elect to provide teen dating violence prevention

education to ensure that the instruction meets certain criteria, and requires the

Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to incorporate teen dating violence and

sexual violence curriculum into its model health curriculum. Specifically, the bill:

1. Authorizes a school district to provide teen dating violence prevention

education, consisting of age-appropriate instruction, as part of the health education

program it provides to pupils in grades 7 to 12.

2. Requires a school district that elects to offer teen dating violence prevention

education to include instruction and materials regarding teen dating violence and

sexual violence that include methods for doing all of the following:

a) Recognizing what constitutes a healthy relationship.

b) Identifying teen dating violence, abusive behavior, physical intimidation,

stalking, physical abuse, inappropriate sexual behavior, sexual harassment, sexual

violence, sexual assault, and Internet abuse and cyber bullying.

c) Locating sources for legal, medical, mental health, and other supportive

services regarding teen dating violence.

3. Requires a school district that elects to offer teen dating violence prevention

education to satisfy certain criteria. The information must be medically accurate

and objective, age appropriate, and available to English learners, encourage

communication with parents, and teach respect for marriage and committed

relationships.

4. Requires each school district that provides teen dating violence prevention

education to notify the parent or guardian of each pupil about instruction planned

for the coming year. The notice must inform the parent or guardian of all of the

following:

a) That educational materials are available for inspection.

b) Whether the prevention education will be taught by school personnel or by

outside consultants. If the instruction is by consultants, the notice must specify the

date of instruction, name of the organization of each speaker, and a statement of the

right of parents to request a copy of the statute.

c) An explanation of the right to request a copy of the statute.

d) That the parent may request in writing that his or her child not participate

in teen dating violence prevention education.

e) That upon written request to the school principal, a parent must be allowed

to examine the instructional materials at the school in which the child is enrolled.

5. Authorizes anonymous, voluntary, and confidential research and evaluation

tools to measure pupils' health behaviors and risks, including questionnaires and

surveys containing age-appropriate questions about the pupil's attitudes concerning

teen dating violence to be administered to any pupil in grades 7 to 12. The

questionnaire or survey may be given only if the parent is first notified in writing that