D.C. Schools OK AIDS Education

WASHINGTON (AP) - The D.C. State Board of Education has approved the first health education standards for the city's schools. The new standards include what students should know about AIDS.

Thursday's vote follows a report by the D.C. Appleseed Center for Law and Justice that said the lack of a comprehensive HIV-AIDS education program was putting District of Columbia students at risk.

The new standards cover such things as mental health, nutrition, fitness and sex ed. Officials say they are a crucial first step in addressing problems, such as D.C.'s high rate of HIV infection, as well as obesity and teen pregnancy.

D.C. health officials have said Washington has the highest AIDS rate among major cities across the country.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)