1. New Sexuality Education Requirements in Illinois:
What It Means for You and Your Students

2. Introductions
Contributions from:
Tammi Tannura,
Kinesiology Department and School of Professional Studies
Tammy Wynard: Health Education Faculty, Health and Physical Education Program Coordinator Alyssa Walters: Senior Health and Physical Education Major
Around the world sentence stem warm up (inner circle and outer circle face each other) - Alyssa
Most people learn about sex by
Youth should learn about sex by
Sex education is
The purpose of sex education should be

3. First Things First Abstinence-Only Education
Comprehensive Sex Education
Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Education
Abstinence-Based Education
Abstinence-Only Education teaches abstinence as the only morally correct option of sexual expression for teenagers. It usually censors information about contraception and condoms for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and unintended pregnancy. Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Education teaches abstinence as the only morally correct option of sexual expression for unmarried young people. Programs funded under the 1996 Welfare Reform Act must censor information about contraception and condoms for the prevention of STDs and unintended pregnancy. Abstinence-Centered Education—Another term normally used to mean abstinence-only education. Comprehensive Sex Education teaches about abstinence as the best method for avoiding STDs and unintended pregnancy, but also teaches about condoms and contraception to reduce the risk of unintended pregnancy and of infection with STDs, including HIV. It also teaches interpersonal and communication skills and helps young people explore their own values, goals, and options. Abstinence-Based Education—Another term normally used to mean comprehensive sexuality education Abstinence-Plus Education—Programs which include information about contraception and condoms in the context of strong abstinence messages, sometimes the same as Comprehensive Sex Education.
Abstinence-Centered Education
Abstinence-Plus Education

4. Comprehensive Sex Education
Covers the wide array of topics that affect sexuality and sexual health. It is grounded in evidence-based, peer-reviewed science. Its goal is to promote health and well-being in a way that is developmentally appropriate. It includes information and communication skills building as well as values exploration. Ideally, sex education in school is an integrated process that builds upon itself year after year, is initiated in kindergarten, and is provided through grade 12.

5. Sexuality Education In Illinois
sex education offered in grades 6-12 must include instruction on abstinence and contraception for the prevention of pregnancy and STI
must be medically accurate, developmentally and age appropriate, and complete
must be evidence-based or substantially incorporate elements of evidence-based programs
HB 2675 / SB 2354
House Version: Passed Both Houses. To Governor. Not a Mandate – and IF, THEN
If a school district chooses to provide sex education courses, curricula is required to be developmentally and age appropriate, medically accurate, evidence-based and complete. Requires comprehensive sex education offered in grades six through 12 to include instruction on both abstinence and contraception for the prevention of pregnancy and STDs. Requires course material and instruction replicate evidence-based programs or substantially incorporate elements of evidence-based programs. Requires the State Board of Education to make available sex education resource materials. Allows parents to opt out.
Requires existing sex education programs to teach medically accurate, developmentally and age appropriate, and complete information.
Medically accurate means: information supported by accepted scientific methods and published in peer-reviewed journals as accurate, objective and complete. For Example: Statistics on the rate of effectiveness for condoms in the prevention of HIV should reflect the information provided by organizations and agencies with recognized expertise in the field of sexual health, including but not limited to, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Age appropriate means: suitable to particular ages or age groups of children and adolescents, based on their developing cognitive, emotional, and behavioral capacity for age. Students in lower grades are provided with less detailed information about contraception than students in higher grades. For Example: In a 7th grade, students may learn that contraception can be used to prevent pregnancy whereas students in 11th grade, may get detailed information about each contraceptive method, including details on how each method works and instructions for use.
Complete means: includes instruction on both abstinence and contraception for the prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS.

6. Illinois Health Education Mandates with Sexual Health Connections
Abandoned newborn infant protection (K-12)
AIDS education (6-12)
Cancer (K-12)
Human growth and development (K-12)
Child abduction prevention (K-8)
Family life (K-12)
Erin’s Law - Sexual abuse and assault awareness (PreK-12)
  Over ten years ago, the Illinois legislature enacted the Abandoned  Newborn Infant Protection Act, 325 ILCS 2 et. al., to allow distressed  parents of an infant the ability to safely relinquish a newborn without  the fear of civil or criminal penalties. under the law, the act "relinquishing a newborn infant to a hospital, police station, fire station, or emergency medical facility in accordance with this Act does  not, by itself, constitute a basis for a finding of abuse, neglect or abandonment of the infant."  This law is important because prior to its enactment, parents leaving an infant could, and most likely would, be prosecuted. The law also provides ways and means for a parent to petition for return of the infant prior to his or her rights being terminated.
Despite the intervening years, many emotionally distressed parents may not be familiar with this option, and tragedies still occur.
Teen Dating Violence –
The school board of each public school district in this State shall adopt a policy that does all of the following:
“States that teen dating violence is unacceptable and is prohibited and that each student has the right to a safe learning environment.”
“Incorporate age appropriate education about teen dating violence into new or existing training programs for students in grades 7-12 and school employees, as recommended by the school officials identified ”
The Illinois Parental Notice Law – 8/13
A young person can have an abortion without getting the consent (permission) of a parent, grandparent, or legal guardian, the Illinois Parental Notice of Abortion law requires their medical provider to notify an adult family member (over 21) 48 hours before performing the abortion.
*They DO NOT have to tell anyone if:
Either parent, any grandparent, a step-parent who lives with the young person, or a legal guardian goes to the doctor with the young person.
Either parent, any grandparent, a step-parent who lives with the young person, or a legal guardian gives up their right to notice in writing.
The young person gives their medical provider a written statement that says they are a victim of sexual abuse, neglect or physical abuse by either parent, any grandparent, a step-parent who lives with the young person or a legal guardian. If they provide a written statement, be aware that their medical provider may be required to report the abuse or neglect to the Department of Children and Family Services after the abortion.
The doctor decides that there is a medical emergency.
The young person is married, divorced or widowed. They must be at least 16 and have consent from both parents in order to get married in Illinois.
They are emancipated. Their petition for emancipation must have been approved by a judge because they are at least 16 and can show that they are mature enough to manage their own affairs or they are a homeless minor in Illinois and fully or mostly independent of their parents or guardian.
The young person gets a parental notice waiver from the court after a successful “judicial bypass” hearing.
Sexual assault awareness, previously mandated for grades 9-12 is now broader in title and grade level.

7. Go here to read the Executive Summary with Erin’s testimony –

8. Sexuality Education Policy
Mandated comprehensive sexual health education
K through 12
Aligned with the National Sexuality Education Standards
Age appropriate for each grade level
Instruction about gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation
Feb new policy
Lessons provided to students in grades K-4 shall total a minimum of 300 minutes per school year addressing all four topic areas outlined in Section A of this Policy.
Lessons provided to students in grades 5-12 shall total a minimum of 675 minutes per school year addressing all five topic areas outlined in Section A of this Policy.

9. The Headlines CPS Mandates Sexual, Health Education For Kindergarten
As Chicago Kids Head Back To School, Conservatives Freak Out About ‘Kindergarten Sex Ed’
Obama Agreed With Mandating Sex Ed Classes for Kindergarten Students
Chicago Public Schools Mandate Sex Ed for Kindergarteners
Chicago Passes Sex-Ed for
Kindergartners

10. CPS Outline
4th Grade
physical, social, and emotional aspects of puberty, causes of HIV transmission
5th-12th Grade
human reproduction, healthy decision-making and bullying
K-1st Grade
anatomy, healthy relationships, and personal safety
2nd-3rd Grade
growth and development
During lessons about pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections for 5th-12th grade, the benefits of
abstinence are emphasized throughout the entire lesson, but information about contraception is also included.
The expanded requirements, including an “opt out” provision for parents who do not want their child to participate in
the program, are to be fully implemented in 2016 and will affect the approximately 400,000 students who comprise the
third largest public school system in the country

11. Who Supports Comprehensive Sex Education
American School Health Association
American Public Health Association
American Psychological Association
YWCA of the USA
Society for Adolescent Medicine
Guttmacher Institute
Advocates for Youth
American Academy of Pediatrics

12. Opponents of Comprehensive Sex Education
National Abstinence Education Association
American Family Association
Concerned Women for America
Focus on the Family
Citizens for Excellence in Education
Medical Institute for Sexual Health
Family Research Council
Bruess and Schroeder, 6th edition
Citizen’s groups typically not involved in education decision-making are often the opponents ranging from local conservative groups
to national organizations

13. Voicing Parental/Community Concerns
Parent Opt-Out
“no pupil shall be required to take or participate in any class or course on AIDS or family life instruction if his parent or guardian submits written objection . . .”
Citizen’s Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Materials

14. Voicing Parental/Community Concerns
Know Your:

15. Opposition Case Studies
Focus: Positive, Respectful, Common Ground

16. Quote by James Conant
Inspired by the late Health Educator Extradonaire, Karen Denard Goldman