Sponsors: Senator Katherine Clark and Representative Jim O'Day

At Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, our trained educators provide comprehensive sexuality education to students; equip professionals to provide medically-accurate, age-appropriate sex education to young people; and work with parents to prepare them to be the primary sexuality educators of their children. We understand the challenges young people face in making healthy, responsible decisions about relationships and sex. Our youth need comprehensive sexuality education that empowers them to communicate their values, acquire strong self-esteem, and gain the knowledge necessary to develop healthy relationships. Such evidence-based programs have been proven to delay the initiation of sex, reduce the incidence of unprotected sex, and increase the use of condoms and contraception.ⁱ  Research shows that providing comprehensive sexuality education helps young people to stay healthy, which enhances their ability to learn.ⁱⁱ  Many of the nation’s leading education and health organizations support comprehensive sexuality education, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Federation of Teachers, and the National Education Association.

For these reasons, Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts supports HB1063/SB190, which will ensure that, if a school in Massachusetts chooses to teach sexuality education, it must provide medically-accurate and age-appropriate information about the benefits of abstinence and delaying sexual activity, healthy relationships and behaviors free of coercion, effective contraceptive use, and sexually transmitted infections. HB1063/SB190 costs no additional money to the state or to towns. This bill simply ensures that youth are armed with the comprehensive information they need to make healthy, responsible decisions about sex and relationships.   

This bill sets a standard, not a mandate
If a school provides sexuality education, it is vital that their curriculum is comprehensive and includes all the important components discussed above. At the same time, HB1063/SB190 will leave important decisions about sexuality education in the hands of local school boards and the schools themselves. Whether or not a public school district provides sexuality education is based on local resources and priorities, and this bill maintains the right of local school districts to determine what is taught in their communities. This bill does not dictate a specific curriculum but simply provides guidance and a set of standards to follow to ensure our youth are receiving medically-accurate and comprehensive information about sex and sexuality.

This bill supports parents as the primary educators of their children
Parents have the right and responsibility to be the primary sexuality educator of their child, imparting correct facts as well as discussing family values, attitudes and beliefs. However, if a parent or legal guardian does not want their child to receive the sexuality education provided in school, HB1063/SB190 maintains current Massachusetts policy, which allows parents to opt their child out of any sexuality based instruction. Students consistently rank parents and teachers as their most trusted source of sexual health information; over peers, over the media. In addition, 93% of parents of junior high school students and 91% of parents of high school students believe it is very or somewhat important to have sexuality education as part of the school curriculum.iii  Schools and parents working together provide a strong model for improving students’ sexual health and well-being.

For more information or questions on this legislation please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Sources:

ⁱ Douglas Kirby, The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, Emerging Answers 2007: Research Findings on Programs to Reduce Teen Pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Diseases 127-136, 2007, http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/EA2007/EA2007_full.pdf
ⁱⁱ Freudenberg N, Ruglis J, Reframing School Dropout as a Public Health Issue, Prev Chronic Dis 2007;4(4), http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2007/oct/07_0063.htm Accessed 10/20/11.
ⁱⁱⁱ Sex Education in America: General Public/Parents Survey (Washington, DC: National Public Radio, Kaiser Family Foundation, Kennedy School of Government, 2004), 5.