Updating State Policies for Students with HIV Infection

Introduction

Eighteen years after the first cases of AIDS were reported in the United States, the HIV epidemic contin­ues to spread. Today more than ever, the epidemic is affecting our children and youth: 6,343 cases of AIDS among children under age 5 were reported in the United States through December 1997; 4,873 cases were reported among children and youth between 5 and 19; and 22,935 cases were reported among adults between 20 and 24. Studies indicate that many of these young adults were infected as teenagers.