Medically Accurate, Age-Appropriate, Complete Sex Education
November 17, 2011
UPDATE
Medically Accurate, Age-Appropriate, Complete Sex Education HB 3027 Senate Amendments 1 & 3 House concurrence VOTE WAS NOT CALLED due to insufficient committed votes. The sponsor was asked to request an extension to consider bill in 2012.
The League of Women Voters will continue to watch this issue. HB 3027 would implement common-sense, accurate sexual health education programs for Illinois pubic school students, geared to grades 6-12. Teens need information and education to make healthy and responsible decisions about all aspects of their sexual health. The bill has broad support from community, health and faith-based organizations.
November 7, 2011
ACTION
Contact your State Representative to VOTE YES on the motion to concur with Senate AMENDMENTS 1 & 3 to HB 3027 for Medically Accurate, Age-Appropriate, Complete Sex Education.
For further information, contact the Issues Specialists.
RATIONALE
Sexual health education has been shown to reduce early sexual activity, teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. HB 3027, as amended, raises standards for sex education in public schools through comprehensive sexual health education classes including information about both abstinence and prevention. It would apply to schools that teach sex education grades 6-12. Parents can remove their children from classes if they don’t want them to participate.
Comprehensive sex education has the support of over 30 community, health and
faith-based organizations including, Il Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics, Cook County Dept. of Public Health, Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health, AAUW, National Council of Jewish Women, Protestants for the Common Good,
AIDS Foundation, Planned Parenthood, Ounce of Prevention Fund.
Senate Amendments #1 and #3 to HB 3027:
- Is not a mandate.
Applies only to public schools that choose to teach sex education. If so, the program
must be medically accurate and developmentally appropriate. It does not apply to
private or religious schools. There is no required lesson plan, activities or materials. Schools have flexibility to choose among numerous curricula.
- Stresses abstinence.
Requires that course material and instruction “stress that abstinence is the ensured method of avoiding unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS.”
- Respects marriage.
States, “Course material and instruction shall teach honor and respect for monogamous heterosexual marriage.”
- Respects parents.
Parents can remove their children from sexual health education courses for any reason.
Students cannot be penalized in any way if parents remove them from a class.
|
