(a) Annually, in either the month of October for a one-semester course taught in the fall or the month of February for a one-semester course taught in the spring, a unit on dating violence awareness shall be taught as a component of a health course offered in grades seven through twelve (7-12).(b) A unit on dating violence awareness shall:(1) Focus on healthy relationships, including the characteristics of healthy relationships;(2) Teach students the definition of dating violence and abuse, including without limitation: (A) Warning signs of dating violence and abusive behavior; and(B) Measures to stop or prevent dating violence and abusive behavior;(3) Inform students about resources and reporting procedures for dating violence or abuse; and(4) Examine the common misconceptions and stereotypes about dating violence and abuse.(c)(1) Materials used to teach a unit in dating violence awareness shall be age appropriate.(2) Information provided shall be objective and based on scientific research that is peer-reviewed and accepted by professionals and credentialed experts in the field of health education.(d) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall annually provide a research that is peer-reviewed and accepted by professionals and credentialed experts in the field of health education.(d) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall annually provide a list of source materials available for school districts to use to teach a unit on dating violence awareness, including without limitation materials from:(1) The Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence;(2) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;(3) The National Domestic Violence Hotline;(4) The National Institutes of Health; and(5) Other sources of scientifically based research that are peer-reviewed.Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 1351, eff. 7/1/2019.Added by Act 2015, No. 952,§ 1, eff. 7/22/2015.
Arkansas Legal Code