Requires comprehensive sexuality instruction for students in grades K-12 which includes a model curricula for comprehensive sexuality education and at a minimum conforms to the content and scope of national sexuality education standards.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A4604
SPONSOR: Gonzalez-Rojas TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to comprehensive sexuali-
ty education in schools
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this legislation is to provide students with a comprehen-
sive sexuality education that is age appropriate, medically accurate,
and inclusive of all students.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1- Amends the education law by adding a new section 804-e.
Paragraph one requires each public and charter school to provide
students in grades kindergarten through twelve with comprehensive sexu-
ality education. Paragraph two requires the commissioner in consultation
with the commissioner of health to develop a sexuality education
program. Paragraph three directs the commissioner to consult a broad
range of experts in the development of the program. Paragraph four
directs the commissioner to prescribe in regulations the contents and
topics to be included in sexuality education. Paragraph five requires
the commissioner to issue guidance to school districts and publish model
curricula on the State Education Department website. Instruction shall
occur no later than the school year following the effective date. Para-
graph six instructs boards of education that elect not to adopt the
model curricula to establish diverse advisory groups to make recommenda-
tions regarding the curriculum, content, of sexuality education for the
school district that conforms in content and scope to the comprehensive
sexuality education program established by the commissioner. Paragraph
seven requires school districts to establish a process for parents to
opt their child out of select lessons regarding HIV/AIDS preven tion, in
accordance with current regulations. Paragraph eight defines the term
"comprehensive sexuality education".
Section 2 - Effective Date
EXISTING LAW:
This is a new section of law.
JUSTIFICATION:
New York does not currently require sex education to be taught in
schools beyond certain requirements related to HIV/AIDS. Of the public
schools that do provide sex education, the curriculum is often inaccu-
rate, incomplete, or biased. It often fails to prepare students to make
healthy, informed, and consensual decisions about relationships. LGBTQ
relationships are often stigmatized or ignored entirely. Even basic
information about anatomy is inaccurate, and materials often reinforce
negative gender stereotypes.
Comprehensive sexuality education covers issues like healthy relation-
ships, body image, and self-esteem. In kindergarten, that looks like
basic lessons about friendship and communication, providing students
with the building blocks they need to tackle issues like consent and
sexual health years later in middle and high school. At older ages those
lessons include health matters like preventing unintended pregnancy and
sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Comprehensive sexuality education results in improved educational
outcomes for students. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
analysis of social-emotional skills program led to significant
reductions in dropout rates. Studies have also found that students who
receive comprehensive sexuality education delay the initiation and
reduce the frequency of sexual intercourse, have fewer sexual partners,
and practice safe sex. Currently 3 in 10 women in New York become preg-
nant at least once before their 20th birthdays, and teenagers represent
about 50% of the new STI cases in New York.
Comprehensive sexuality education is about more than reducing the rates
of STIs and unintended pregnancy. Educating students about dating
violence prevention, consent, and healthy relationships will reduce
interpersonal violence, sexual harassment, and toxic relationships. The
MeToo movement is part of a reckoning about the pervasiveness of sexual
harassment and violence in our culture. Young people are, unfortunately,
not immune. Nationally, more than two thirds of teenagers who are or
have been in a relationship report experiencing some form of sexual,
physical, or emotional abuse. In New York City, about 12 percent of
teenagers reported experiencing physical dating violence. Without
comprehensive sexuality education, sexual harassment and toxic relation-
ships will continue to spread.
Comprehensive sexuality education will also make schools safer places
for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth.
Gay, lesbian, and bisexual students are almost twice as likely as heter-
osexual students to report not going to school because they felt unsafe
at, or on their way to or from, school. For transgender and gender non-
confirming youth, school can be even more difficult: in New York, 74%
of transgender students (or those perceived as transgender) experience
some form of mistreatment: 50% were verbally harassed, 23% report being
physically assaulted, and 12% experienced sexual violence between
kindergarten and 12th grade. School victimization has been linked with
decreased academic achievement, increased suicide ideation, increased
rates of absenteeism, and negative impacts on their emotional health.
Comprehensive sexuality education that dispels stigma around sexuality
and gender combats discrimination, bullying, and harassment and promotes
respect for all youth.
Across party lines, parents overwhelmingly support comprehensive sexual-
ity education in schools. According to a national poll of parents, 93.5%
feel it is important that sex education is taught in middle school, and
96% feel it is important that sex education is taught in high school.
All young people deserve the knowledge, skills, and resources to make
healthy and informed decisions about their bodies and relationships.
Comprehensive sexuality education will empower and educate students to
protect their health and build their futures - without shame or judg-
ment. It is critical that New York students receive this education.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A.6616 - 2021/2022
A.6512- 2019/2020
A.10517- 2018
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
July 1, 2024
