1. Local and State Organizing Opportunities in Sex Education Meredith Schonfeld-Hicks & Meghan Rapp State Strategies Program Managers Advocates for Youth

2. Purpose   Inform SEAT participants about important sex education trends and victories at the state and local level

3. Objectives   Understand basic trends in state sex education policy   Understand the role of youth advocates within the larger movement   Recognize ways to take action on sex education at the state and local level

4. Areas for Impact   Federal Policy and Funding   State Policy and Funding   School District/Board School Health Advisory Councils   School Policy and Curriculum   Individual Teachers

5. Policy and Dialogue Trends  Local changes moving faster North Carolina North Carolina Parma, OH Parma, OH  Medical accuracy language Minnesota Minnesota Wisconsin Wisconsin Ohio Ohio  Strength in statistics and parent polling  Economy & budgets affecting sex education

6. Title V Abstinence-Only-Until- Marriage Funding   Federal and State Issue   Clear Example of Advocacy in Action o o 22 States and the District of Columbia o o California o o Washington   President took it out of FY10 budget (Yay!)   Reinstated in Health Care Reform (Boo!)

7. State Policy Overview 22 states and DC mandate that public schools teach sex education

9. 34 states require that abstinence be stressed or covered when taught as part of sex education if sex education is taught

11. 35 states and DC mandate HIV/STI education 35 states and DC mandate HIV/STI education

13. Washington-Healthy Youth Act  Signed into law by Governor Chris Gregoire on May 2, 2007  When school districts choose to offer sexuality education, they teach medically accurate and comprehensive sex education  When school districts choose to offer sexuality education, they teach medically accurate and comprehensive sex education  Individual school districts decide whether to teach sex education and which curricula is used  Individual school districts decide whether to teach sex education and which curricula is used  Implementation phase

14. Florida- Healthy Teens Act  Any public school that receives state funding and offers sexual health programs shall provide comprehensive, medically accurate, and age appropriate factual information  Moved unexpectedly in response to health statistics and polling in 2009  Push to add it to House & Senate Pre K – 12 Committee agendas for 2010

16. Florida Health Teens Campaign Healthy Teens and Prevention First Press Conference during Planned Parenthood’s lobby days at the capitol, March 2008

17. North Carolina- Healthy Youth Act  Signed into law by Governor Bev Purdue on June 30, 2009  Requires local school systems to offer Reproductive Health and Safety Education  Advocacy efforts included 6,000+ postcards, coverage in 130+ articles, phone banking, legislative visits, and online mobilization  Law must be implemented Fall 2010

18. North Carolina Teen Health Now!

19. Wisconsin- Healthy Youth Act  Signed into law by Governor Jim Doyle on February 24, 2010  Over 50 diverse coalition members  Ensures that LGBT youth receive non- biased sex education materials

20. Wisconsin HYA: 5 Key Components  Medically accurate, age appropriate sex education including information about abstinence and contraceptives  School districts that opt to not teach sex education must send a notice home to parents  State apply for federal funds that are allocated for evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention programs  Deleted a provision that forbade volunteer health care providers from providing sex education instruction  Supports the current ability of parents to opt children out of sex education curriculum

21. Oregon  State Board of Education unanimously approved revisions to Oregon Administrative Rule about Human Sexuality Education  Combined with Oregon’s new Human Sexuality Education Law (signed into law June 2, 2009), Oregon now has one of the most progressive comprehensive sexuality education policies in the nation  Comprehensive sex education is now required in kindergarten through twelfth grade in all public schools.

22. Ohio Act for Our Children’s Future  If sex education is taught, it must be comprehensive  Several hearings with youth testimony “I attended a school of excellence, yet when it came to sex education I was denied scientific and medically accurate information for preventing STIs and pregnancy. Denying access to the latest scientific information in any other subject would be appalling, yet it is acceptable for Loveland City School District and others across Ohio to teach students misinformation. And it’s not only appalling, it just doesn’t make sense.” Jamie Royce, Activist, Advocates for Youth

23. Parma, OH  Student pushing policy change at district level  Organized for 19 months  Provided testimony at School Board meeting  Earned extensive media coverage  Met with Superintendent  Invited to meetings with District Staff Danny Sparks, Activist

24. Partnerships and Coalitions   State work happens in coalition with lots of planning

25. Coalition Partners Reproductive Health Organizations Faith/Religious Organizations LGBT groups Youth Parents Education Community HIV/AIDS Organizations Universities/Researchers ???

27. Why you need those partners…

28. National Abstinence Education Association  “Comprised of leading abstinence educators and supporters who represent 1.5 million children across the U.S.”  Annual Lobby Day in Washington, DC Bus in “500” high school students from rural Georgia and other areas of the U.S. Bus in “500” high school students from rural Georgia and other areas of the U.S.  Valerie Huber, President “It is important to note that many students who attended this event were inspired by the recent election of President Obama and are counting on him to help maintain these [abstinence-only] programs in their schools and communities.” “It is important to note that many students who attended this event were inspired by the recent election of President Obama and are counting on him to help maintain these [abstinence-only] programs in their schools and communities.”

29. NAEA cont.  Parents for Truth Campaign Engages parents with fear based information about sex education programs Engages parents with fear based information about sex education programs Fundraising tactic Fundraising tactic

30. NAEA’s Attack Ads in Massachusetts

31. Young People in the Movement  First hand experience  Credible sources  Voting constituency  Natural organizers

32. Fight Back! Stack the SHAC!   School Health Advisory Council   An organized group of parents and community members that address adolescent health issues   Collaborate, educate, persuade and assist in a volunteer capacity   Requirement for many school districts Texas Michigan Georgia

33. SHACs cont.  Arizona  Colorado  Delaware  Georgia  Indiana  Maryland  Massachusetts  Michigan  Missouri  Nebraska  Nevada  New Jersey  New Mexico  New York  South Carolina  Texas  West Virginia  Wisconsin Health, Sex and/or HIV education

34. Resources  www.advocatesforyouth.org www.advocatesforyouth.org - Advocates’ home for parents & professionals  www.amplifyyourvoice.org www.amplifyyourvoice.org - Online community for youth activists  www.siecus.org www.siecus.org - SIECUS State Profiles  State coalition websites

35. Thank you! Meredith Schonfeld-Hicks meredith@advocatesforyouth.org Meghan Rapp meghan@advocatesforyouth.org