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COMPREHENSIVE SEXUALITY EDUCATION
Comprehensive Sexuality Education programs emphasize abstinence and
include education about condoms and contraceptives, as well as
healthy decision making and healthy relationships. Comprehensive
sexuality education promotes both risk elimination and risk reduction
strategies. It uses culturally and gender-sensitive materials,
language and strategies that recognize different gender identities
and sexual orientations. Opportunities are provided for young people
to develop and understand their own values, attitudes and beliefs
about sexuality as a means of exercising responsibility regarding
sexual relationships. In compliance with the Healthy Youth Act,
a comprehensive sexuality program:
º Is medically and scientifically accurate
º Is age appropriate
º Is appropriate for students regardless of gender, race,
disability status, or sexual orientation
º Includes information about abstinence AND other methods
of preventing unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases
There have been a number of reports and research conducted around
comprehensive sexuality education demonstrating that it is the
most effective and publicly supported form of sex education.
SIECUS research updates summarize the findings and implications
of the most relevant reports and articles so that colleagues,
educators, and advocates can have the most up-to-date information.
SIECUS fact sheets on comprehensive sexuality education are also available.
In 2006, the Guttmacher Institute released a presentation:
"Sex Education: Needs, Programs and Policies," which brings
together the latest research and analysis on sex education
in the United States and its effectiveness in preventing
unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases
(STDs) among teenagers.
For further information and resources, check out these publications:
Why comprehensive sexuality education does work
ABSTINENCE ONLY EDUCATION
There have been numerous reports and studies conducted on abstinence-only
education concluding that these programs are often misleading and have
been found ineffective.
For evaluations and reports on abstinence only education programs,
check out Advocates for Youth
Waxman Report
Please see the government conducted report: Content of Federally Funded Abstinence Only Programs.
Sexuality Information and Education Council
The Sexuality Information and Education Council in the United States
(SIECUS) has been tracking abstinence-only-until-marriage programs,
advocating for an end to federal funding for these programs, and
helping educators and parents keep these harmful programs out of their schools.
SIECUS’s Washington Profile of abstinence only funding
For further information and resources, check out these publications:
Why abstinence-only education does not work
DATA AND RESOURCES
STD and Teen Pregnancy data - US, WA, Local
See here for an extensive list of national and local research on teen pregnancy
and STD/HIV data.
Sexuality Education Survey in WA State, 2007
Prior to the bill passing, a sexuality education survey was conducted
and released in 2007, finding significant shortcomings in sex education
curricula in Washington public schools.
Sexuality Education Survey Follow-up in WA State, 2009
The Healthy Youth Act went into effect September, 2008. In 2009, the
Healthy Youth Alliance conducted and released a sexuality education
survey monitoring compliance with the new state law.
Center for Heath Training (CHT)
CHT Resource Group provides an initial set of agencies and government
offices that focus on the data side of adolescent pregnancy and STD/HIV prevention.
Advocates for Youth
Advocates for Youth is an organization that champions efforts to help
young people make informed and responsible decisions about their
reproductive and sexual health. This organization has an extensive
list of research sources for journal articles, statistics, and news
about adolescent reproductive and sexual health and related fields.
Centers for Disease Control, Division of Adolescent and School Health
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