Buncombe County Schools offers families the opportunity for students in 9th grade to participate in the Reproductive Health and Safety Education course. Please take time to read through the informational letter below from Buncombe County Schools Healthful Living Director and respond to the questions below.  


Dear Parent,
With the passing of the “Healthy Youth Act of 2009,” schools are directed to provide Reproductive Health and Safety Education to students in grades 6-9. Instructors will be Buncombe County Schools Health educators.


The 9th grade comprehensive four-day curriculum (we will combine the 30 minute segments into two hours total on the same day) The curriculum will include developmentally appropriate materials while focusing on the following points:
 1. Abstinence is the expected standard for youth.
 2. Reasons, decision making skills, and strategies for becoming or remaining  abstinent.
 3. Strategies to deal with peer pressure.
 4. Abstinence is the only certain means of preventing pregnancy and diseases.  
 5. The best lifelong means of prevention is fidelity in marriage, and
 the benefits of abstinence as compared to the risks of premarital sex.
 6. Factually accurate biological and pathological information related to the human  reproductive system.
 7. How STD’s are transmitted, the effectiveness of all FDA-approved methods for  STD prevention, and information on local resources for testing and treatment.  
 8. Awareness of sexual assault, sexual abuse and risk reduction.

We acknowledge that parents are the best and primary educators for their children. We want to support your efforts, honor your wishes and work with you to provide a quality program and the best outcome for your child while still meeting the mandates of the law. We encourage you to talk with your child as he/she participates in the program.

Instructional outlines and materials follow the North Carolina Healthful Living Essential Teaching Standards and are available for review at