Washington State HIV/AIDS Prevention Education Requirements

Contact Information

Sexual Health Education

In 1988 the Washington State Legislature passed the AIDS Omnibus Act. This act mandates that beginning no later than Grade 5, students shall receive yearly instruction in the life-threatening dangers of HIV/AIDS, its transmission, and its prevention.

Districts are encouraged to provide HIV/AIDS prevention education as part of their required comprehensive sexual health education (CSHE) and to use their district-adopted CSHE curriculum to cover this content. 

Requirements of the law include: 

  • The Instructional materials adopted for use for HIV/AIDS prevention must be either: 
    • Materials reviewed by OSPI and the Department of Health for medical accuracy and consistency with state requirements or
    • Developed (or purchased) by the school district and approved for medical accuracy by the Department of Health Office of Infectious Disease.
  • At least one month before teaching HIV/AIDS prevention education in any classroom, each district must notify parents and guardians that instruction will take place AND must provide at least one presentation, during weekend and evening hours, for parents and guardians of students concerning the curriculum and materials that will be used for HIV/AIDS education. This may be a recorded presentation and may be combined with the district's CSHE presentation. 
  • Students may be removed from HIV/AIDS prevention education if the student's parent or guardian, having attended one the district presentations, objects in writing to such participation.
  • Presentations, which may be provided online and/or recorded, should be scheduled to provide sufficient time (ideally at least 30 days) for parents/guardians to review materials prior to instruction taking place.

NOTE: As with all school district curricula, HIV/AIDS prevention instructional materials must also be reviewed by the school district instructional materials committee for bias as provided in the Basic Education Law (RCW 28A.150.240), the Instructional Materials Law (RCW 28A.320.230), and the Sex Equity Law (RCW 28A.640.010).

Resources for School Districts: