Florida school districts are facing pressure from state officials to limit the scope of their sex education curriculum. The Florida Department of Education, led by an appointee of Governor Ron DeSantis, is advocating for a more abstinence-focused approach. This means scaling back lessons on contraception, anatomy, and consent, which have been deemed inappropriate for students.
This shift in policy is part of a larger trend in conservative states to restrict comprehensive sex education. Advocates are worried that limiting these topics could leave young people ill-prepared to navigate issues related to adolescence, safe sex, and relationship violence. With sexually transmitted infections on the rise and access to abortion becoming more restricted, the need for comprehensive sex education has never been more urgent.
Recent changes to state law now require the Florida Department of Education to approve school districts’ curriculum on reproductive health and disease education if they are using materials other than the state’s designated textbook. This has resulted in about a dozen districts being instructed to revise their sex education plans.
Elissa Barr, a public health professor at the University of North Florida, emphasizes that comprehensive sex education is not just about preventing teen pregnancy and HIV, but also about sexual abuse and dating violence prevention. Research shows that comprehensive sex ed can help teens delay sexual initiation, reduce rates of teen pregnancy and STIs, and prevent sexual abuse.
However, the Florida Department of Education defends its approach, emphasizing the importance of abstinence and the state’s focus on teaching that “reproductive roles” are “binary, stable, and unchangeable.” The department argues that promoting abstinence is crucial and that the state should not be encouraging sexual activity among minors.
In some districts, state officials have instructed schools to remove certain topics from their curriculum, such as pictures of reproductive anatomy, demonstrations on contraceptive use, and discussions of abuse, consent, and domestic violence. Instead, they are encouraged to use more age-appropriate language and focus on talking to trusted adults when feeling uncomfortable.
While schools in Florida are not required to teach sex education, those that do must emphasize abstinence as the standard. Parents have the option to opt their children out of these lessons, although surveys show that the majority of the public supports comprehensive sex education in schools.
Advocates like Elissa Barr stress the importance of focusing on science and what works best for young people, rather than letting politics or religion dictate sex education policies. Comprehensive sex education has been proven to be effective in helping young people make informed decisions about their sexual health and relationships.