Sex-related education bill HB999 Presentation Sex-related education bill March 28, 2011

Why do we need a sex-related education bill? Mississippi has the highest rate of teen pregnancy In MS there are 65.7 pregnancy for every 1000 young women ages 15-19 Parenthood is the leading cause of school dropout Children of teen mothers face more health, and academic challenges than their peers

Implementation Timeline By July 2012, every school district must adopt a policy on: Abstinence-only education, or Abstinence-plus education By August 2012, school districts must submit a selected policy, curriculum, and protocol for implementation to the Office of Healthy Schools Instruction to begin no later than the start of 2012-13 school year.

Highlights of HB999 Section 37-13-171, MS Code of 1972 When choosing abstinence-only curriculum may contain Remains the state standard Instruction must be factual and age/grade appropriate Gains realized through abstinence Consequences that sexual activity is likely to produce Unwanted sexual advances Discussion of birth control, failure rates, and STD’s Current laws related to sexual conduct

Highlights of HB999 Section 37-13-171, MS Code of 1972 When choosing abstinence-plus curriculum must contain all of previous elements and Any other programmatic component that is approved May not include demonstrations of condom application Factual presentation of risks and failure rates.

Highlights of HB999 Section 37-13-171, MS Code of 1972 Other measures No effort to teach abortion as a means to prevent birth Boys and Girls must be separated for instruction Requires written notice of inclusion May offer parent education School nurses responsible to implement program

Highlights of HB999 Section 37-13-171, MS Code of 1972 Establishment of Teen Pregnancy Prevention Task Force to study the implementation and success of these measures (17) Specific appointments from various agencies Legislative appointments Community appointments

Technical Assistance The Mississippi Department of Education, Office of Healthy Schools will provide: A list of Approved Supplemental Resource Providers Template for developing protocol Set up an electronic reporting system.

“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe You know the statistics now. You’ll soon know the warning signs (if you don’t already). You’re willing to be part of the team for in-service training. Are you willing to be that point of school connectedness for a student? Will you apply what you know and ACT if a student chooses you to be that person they reveal their suicide intent to?

School Health Administrator Contact Information Dana Hale School Health Administrator dhale@mdek12.org