August 20, 2015
SIECUS is pleased to release the 2015 Sex Ed State Legislative Round-Up: Overview of Activity Across the Country. This first-ever analysis of policy provisions introduced in state legislatures related to sexuality education highlights key takeaways, enacted legislation, and common provisions within legislative topic areas for the 2015 state legislative session. SIECUS identified 163 bills from across the country’s state legislatures that included provisions ranging from advancing school-based sexuality education, requiring sexual violence prevention education, restricting sexuality education with content requirements, and promoting abstinence-only-until-marriage programs.
Highlights of the report include:
- 163 bills related to school-based sexuality education were introduced in 40 states.
- Sexual violence prevention, instruction requirements, and safe schools/bullying prevention were the most common legislative topics introduced related to sexuality education.
- 11 states enacted 13 laws to related to sexuality education. Of these, 12 new laws advance sexuality education and 1 new law restricts it.
- The vast majority of introduced (74%) or enacted (92%) bills contained provisions to advance sexuality education in their respective states.
SIECUS invites you to explore the report, and welcomes your questions and feedback.
For more information or assistance on how to utilize the 2015 Sex Ed State Legislative Round-Up to support quality comprehensive sexuality education in your state or community, please contact Kristina Romines, Policy and Communications Associate, at email@example.com.