The goal of health education is to provide Kentucky students with the knowledge and skills needed to adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2017), “research shows a strong connection between healthy behaviors and academic achievement (e.g., grades, standardized tests, graduation rates, attendance).” Skill development, in conjunction with opportunities for creating and reinforcing healthy behaviors, focuses on personal decision-making, goal setting, self-management, interpersonal communication, accessing information, analyzing influences and advocacy. When these skills are combined with foundational health-related information, students are equipped to navigate today’s complex society and lead healthy lifestyles.

Standard 1: Describe the physical and emotional changes during puberty. Standard 7 Practices for Health-Enhancing Behaviors: Research confirms practicing health-enhanced behaviors can prevent many diseases and injuries and reduce harmful and risk-taking behaviors such as abuse and neglect, drug abuse, prescription drug abuse and sexual activity.

If a school council or, if none exists, the principal adopts a curriculum for human sexuality or sexually transmitted diseases, instruction shall include but not be limited to the following content: (1) Abstinence from sexual activity is the desirable goal for all school-age children; (2) Abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to avoid unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and other associated health problems; and (3) The best way to avoid sexually transmitted diseases and other associated health problems is to establish a permanent mutually faithful monogamous relationship.