Gina M. Gray, M.Ed. Penn State-Worthington Scranton AAHPERD 2012 Let’s Talk About Sex!

Reality U.S. has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in industrialized world More than 750,000 girls years old become pregnant each year in U.S. >80% are unintended year olds contract almost half of the 19 million STDs annually 1:4 sexually active teens contract an STD each year From Rationale for Sexuality Education in Public Schools, pg 7 of National Sexuality Education Standards

“Studies have repeatedly found that health programs in school can help young people succeed academically.” Most effective = strategic and coordinated Health education has positive effects on overall academic outcomes Help delay onset of sexual activity, reduce the frequency of sexual activity, reduce the number of sexual partners, and increase condom and contraceptive use From Rationale for Sexuality Education in Public Schools, pg 7 of National Sexuality Education Standards

“Parents overwhelmingly favor comprehensive sexuality education in public school at the national and state levels.” Ninety-three percent of parents of junior high school students and 91 percent of parents of high school students believe it is very or somewhat important to have sexuality education as part of the school curriculum From Rationale for Sexuality Education in Public Schools, pg 8 of National Sexuality Education Standards

Jan. 9, 2012 Release of National Sexuality Education Standards “Developed to address the inconsistent implementation of sexuality education nationwide and the limited time allocated to teaching the topic” Goal is “to provide clear, consistent and straightforward guidance on the essential minimum, core content for sexuality education that is developmentally and age-appropriate for students in grades K-12.” Available at: fose-standards-web.pdfhttp:// fose-standards-web.pdf From Introduction and Background pg. 6, National Sexuality Education Standards

Your Reality Health education curriculum Issues/obstacles to teaching sexuality education in your school/district Level of parental involvement/support What works well for you?

Resources Sex education by teens, for teens Guttmacher.org Siecus.org Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education Health Education Assessment Project (HEAP) Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (HECAT) from CDC Kaiser Family Foundation ( Resource center for adolescent pregnancy prevention (

Activities Is your Bed Crowded?* Graffiti Wall* Candy in the Bag* Media assignments-TV and advertising variations Media saturated world for today’s teens Risk behavior continuum YouTube clips Utilize poll everywhere ( Sheet protector activities *Can access through the online program