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Introduced Version House Concurrent Resolution 107 History

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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 107

(By Delegate Lawrence)

 

 

 

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to conduct a study regarding the implementation of reproductive health education in West Virginia public schools.

    Whereas, West Virginia was the only state in the nation to show an increase in teen births for girls ages 15-17 from 2007-2009, which increase was seventeen percent; and

    Whereas, West Virginia tax payers spent approximately $67 million on costs associated with teen pregnancy in 2008; and

    Whereas, Students who gave birth within four years of starting high school represents 32.8% of dropouts; and

    Whereas, Current West Virginia Board of Education Policy 2520.5 Next Generation Health Content Standards and Objectives are medically accurate and allow health teachers to address reproductive health; and

    Whereas, Implementation of these health content standards and objectives is locally controlled; and

    Whereas, The West Virginia Department of Education is initiating efforts to address teen pregnancy; and

    Whereas, The State Superintendent of Schools has articulated the need for a holistic approach to teen pregnancy prevention through positive youth asset development; and

    Whereas, West Virginia educators cited a need for professional development regarding reproductive health issues in a recent survey; and

    Whereas, The School Health Profiles developed by the Division of Adolescent and School Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention assist state and local education and health agencies in monitoring and assessing characteristics of school health education; and

    Whereas, The West Virginia Department of Education is currently collecting the School Health Profiles Study to compare the status of health education programs from 2010 to 2012; and

    Whereas, Health educators in West Virginia will be offered reproductive health education training by the West Virginia Department of Education, Office of Healthy Schools; and

    Whereas, Data from School Health Profiles can be used to improve school health programs; and

    Whereas, The Legislature should explore effective teen pregnancy interventions; and

    Whereas, Interventions to explore should include, but not be limited to, an examination of: Distinguishing content standards and objectives that reflect a stronger impact on student knowledge; the variance in effectiveness of delivering the high school health education course to students over multiple years versus in a single year, as well as variance in class period duration; and any success in teen pregnancy prevention which could be attributed to certain programs, instructional materials, or student support services such as those provided by mentors or guidance counselors, that are used in counties with lower incidences of teen pregnancy; and therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to conduct a study regarding the implementation of reproductive health education in West Virginia public schools; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the Legislature, on the first day of the regular session, 2013, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations together with drafts of any legislation to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.

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