Eighth Grade Health Content Standard and Objectives

The eighth grade health education objectives provide opportunities for students to practice decision making, communication skills and goal setting in role-played or simulated situations that outline the importance of taking responsibility for individual actions. Consequences of poor decisions are examined closely in relationship to a variety of important risks and strategies to enhance personal health and wellness. Students examine violence prevention and develop strategies to promote safety for themselves and others. Discussion of the negative consequences of drug, alcohol, and tobacco use and sexual activity are important components of the eighth grade health education curriculum.

All West Virginia teachers are responsible for classroom instruction that integrates content Standard, learning skills, and technology. The goal of sixth grade health education program of study is to address many important social, emotional and physical changes of young adolescents. Decision making steps and application are integrated into all topics of discussion as students examine potential long and short term consequences of decisions and their impact on all aspects of health (e.g., physical, emotional, social, mental/intellectual, spiritual, environmental and occupational). Students critically examine concepts related to personal health; injury prevention; and alcohol, tobacco and other drugs; and recognize the impact of positive health decisions on personal goal attainment.

(a) In order for the schools to become healthy learning environments and to provide a strong defense against drug use and violence, the State Board of Education shall prescribe programs within the existing health and physical education program which teach resistance and life skills to counteract societal and peer pressure to use drugs, alcohol and tobacco,and shall include counselors, teachers and staff in full implementation of the program. The board shall also prescribe programs to coordinate violence reduction efforts in schools and between schools and their communities and to train students, teachers, counselors and staff in conflict resolution skills. The program shall be comprehensive, interdisciplinary and shall begin in elementary school.

(b) No later than the start of the 2018-2019 school year, a county board shall implement comprehensive drug awareness and prevention programs for students in grades K through 12 to receive instruction regarding the dangers of substance abuse. The purpose of the drug awareness and prevention program is to:

• (1) Keep students from illegally using alcohol, tobacco or other drugs;

• (2) Reduce or eliminate the incidence and prevalence of student's alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse;

• (3) Reduce the factors that place students at risk of abusing alcohol, tobacco or other drugs through school and a community based planning processes;

• (4) Contribute to the development of school environments and alternative activities that are alcohol, tobacco and drug-free;

• (5) Increase the knowledge and skills of students, staff and community members for avoiding the harmful effects of alcohol, tobacco and drug use, and of blood borne pathogens;

• (6) Actively involve staff, students, parents and community members in the development and implementation of the drug awareness and prevention program plans;

• (7) Facilitate an understanding and appreciation of the risks to, duties of, and likely actions by law-enforcement officers when conducting investigations; and

• (8) Instruct how to respond to an officer during a vehicular or other stop or police interaction, including problematic or dangerous action and behaviors that could result in a person being detained or arrested.

(c) The county board shall coordinate the delivery of instruction to meet the purposes of subsection (b) of this section with educators, drug rehabilitation specialists and law-enforcement agencies to periodically provide age appropriate student education on their experiences with the impacts of illegal alcohol and drug use.

(b) No later than the start of the 2018-2019 school year, a county board shall implement comprehensive drug awareness and prevention programs for students in grades K through 12 to receive instruction regarding the dangers of substance abuse. The purpose of the drug awareness and prevention program is to:

• (1) Keep students from illegally using alcohol, tobacco or other drugs;

• (2) Reduce or eliminate the incidence and prevalence of student's alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse;

• (3) Reduce the factors that place students at risk of abusing alcohol, tobacco or other drugs through school and a community based planning processes;

• (4) Contribute to the development of school environments and alternative activities that are alcohol, tobacco and drug-free;

• (5) Increase the knowledge and skills of students, staff and community members for avoiding the harmful effects of alcohol, tobacco and drug use, and of blood borne pathogens;

• (6) Actively involve staff, students, parents and community members in the development and implementation of the drug awareness and prevention program plans;

• (7) Facilitate an understanding and appreciation of the risks to, duties of, and likely actions by law-enforcement officers when conducting investigations; and

• (8) Instruct how to respond to an officer during a vehicular or other stop or police interaction, including problematic or dangerous action and behaviors that could result in a person being detained or arrested.

(c) The county board shall coordinate the delivery of instruction to meet the purposes of subsection (b) of this section with educators, drug rehabilitation specialists and law-enforcement agencies to periodically provide age appropriate student education on their experiences with the impacts of illegal alcohol and drug use.

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(d) Beginning with the 2018-2019 school year, instruction required pursuant to section nine of this article in the subject of health education in any of the grades six through twelve as considered appropriate by the county board shall include at least sixty minutes of instruction for each student on the dangers of opioid use, the additive characteristics of opioids,and safer alternatives to treat pain.