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Sex Ed by State

Click on a state below to see its laws regarding sex education.

California

California’s law governing sex education is called the California Healthy Youth Act and was enacted in January of 2016.  It mandates comprehensive sex and HIV/AIDS education for grades 7-12. 

Sex education must:

  • Cover abstinence
  • Include information on:
    • Contraception
    • Avoiding coercion
    • Healthy decision-making
    • Family communication
  • Be medically accurate
  • Be age-appropriate
  • Be culturally appropriate & unbiased
  • Not promote religion

HIV/AIDS education must:

  • Cover abstinence
  • Include information about condoms
  • Be medically accurate
  • Be age-appropriate
  • Be objective
  • Be appropriate for all races, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, pupils with disabilities, and English learners
  • Include instruction about gender, gender expression, gender identity and gender stereotypes

 Parents must be given notice of sex and HIV/AIDS education and may opt out of both.

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