Model Bill: Comprehensive Sex Education

Section 1: Title

This bill shall be known as the “Comprehensive Sexual Health Education Act.”

Section 2: Findings 

WHEREAS, youth benefit from medically accurate, age-appropriate, inclusive sexual health education;

WHEREAS, evidence shows that comprehensive sexuality education delays initiation of sexual activity, reduces rates of unintended pregnancy and STIs, improves consent awareness, and supports healthy relationships;

WHEREAS, sexuality education is a component of public health, supports equity (including LGBTQ-inclusive content), consent culture, healthy relationships, and abuse prevention;

WHEREAS, schools have a role in preparing children not just academically but also socially, emotionally, and physically — including through education about their bodies, relationships, decision-making, and rights;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT this legislation seeks to ensure that all public (and charter, if applicable) schools in the [STATE] provide comprehensive sexuality education that is medically accurate, age-appropriate, culturally responsive, inclusive of gender identity and sexual orientation, focused on consent, healthy relationships, prevention of disease and unintended pregnancy, and to establish accountability, curriculum standards, parental involvement, and evaluation.

Section 3: Definitions

1. “Comprehensive Sexuality Education” (CSE) — instruction that includes but is not limited to topics such as anatomy, human development and reproduction; contraception and disease prevention; healthy relationships; consent; sexual orientation; gender identity; abuse and violence prevention; decision-making skills; media literacy; and rights and responsibilities.
2. “Medically accurate” — consistent with current scientific and medical consensus, peer-reviewed research, and accepted by major medical or public health authorities.
3. “Age-appropriate” — suitable to students’ developmental level (cognitive, emotional, social), with content progressing in complexity by grade level.
4. “Inclusive / Culturally responsive” — reflects diverse experiences, identities (racial, ethnic, cultural, gender, sexual orientation), and is accessible to students with disabilities or special needs.
5. “Consent education” — instruction on consent, boundaries, communication, refusal skills, prevention of sexual violence, and healthy relationship dynamics.
6. “Opt-in / Opt-out” — specify how parents / guardians are involved in allowing or excluding their children from certain instruction (see parental rights section)

Section 4: Requirements

1. The [STATE DEPT OF EDUCATION OR RELEVANT AGENCY] shall develop or adopt Comprehensive Sexuality Education Standards.
   1. These standards must align at minimum with recognized national standards as established by the National Sexuality Education Standards, or equivalent.
2. The [STATE DEPT OF EDUCATION OR RELEVANT AGENCY] shall develop & publish a model curriculum or exemplar lesson plans, including materials (slides, handouts, videos, teacher guides), differentiated by grade or developmental stage.
   1. The model materials shall be publicly available, including on the [DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OR RELEVANT AGENCY] website.
3. The [STATE DEPT OF EDUCATION OR RELEVANT AGENCY] will create standards to ensure that any student discussions or disclosures during class are handled with privacy safeguards.
   1. The [STATE DEPT OF EDUCATION OR RELEVANT AGENCY] will establish a process for how students can access further resources, including but not limited to a counselor, school nurse or  outside mental health service provider confidentially, where allowed by law.

Section 5: Implementation and Training

1. The [STATE DEPT OF EDUCATION OR RELEVANT AGENCY] shall:
   1. Develop and disseminate model curricula aligned with this Act.
   2. Provide professional development and training for educators on delivering sexual health education.
   3. Ensure that all instructional materials are accessible to students with disabilities.
2. School districts will adopt the state model curriculum or align their local curricula to meet or exceed those standards.
3. District plans must submit evidence of alignment and must undergo periodic review by the [STATE DEPT OF EDUCATION OR RELEVANT AGENCY] for compliance with the standards.

Section 6: Notice

1. Schools shall notify parents and/or guardians at least 30 days before the commencement of sexual health education instruction.
2. Parents and/or guardians may opt a child out of specific lessons or the entire program without penalty.
3. The [STATE DEPT OF EDUCATION OR RELEVANT AGENCY] will provide parents and/or guardians the ability to access the curriculum resources by posting them online.

Section 7: Accountability and Reporting

1. Schools shall submit annual reports to the [STATE DEPT OF EDUCATION] detailing the implementation of sexual health education programs.
2. The [STATE DEPT OF EDUCATION]  shall monitor compliance and provide support to schools as needed.
3. Non-compliance may result in corrective action plans and, if unresolved, withholding of state funding.

Section 8: Funding

1. The Legislature shall appropriate funds necessary to implement the provisions of this Act, including curriculum development, teacher training, and evaluation.
2.  The [STATE DEPT OF EDUCATION]  may seek federal or private grants to supplement state funding.
3. Implementation shall begin in the first academic year following adoption of standards, with full compliance required within three years.