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HB999 Presentation Sex-related education bill. March 28, 2011. Why do we need a sex-related education bill?. Mississippi has the highest rate of teen pregnancy In MS there are 65.7 pregnancy for every 1000 young women ages 15-19 Parenthood is the leading cause of school dropout
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HB999 Presentation Sex-related education bill March 28, 2011
Why do we need a sex-related education bill? • Mississippi has the highest rate of teen pregnancy • In MS there are 65.7 pregnancy for every 1000 young women ages 15-19 • Parenthood is the leading cause of school dropout • Children of teen mothers face more health, and academic challenges than their peers
Implementation Timeline • By July 2012, every school district must adopt a policy on: • Abstinence-only education, or • Abstinence-plus education • By August 2012, school districts must submit a selected policy, curriculum, and protocol for implementation to the Office of Healthy Schools • Instruction to begin no later than the start of 2012-13 school year.
Highlights of HB999 Section 37-13-171, MS Code of 1972 • When choosing abstinence-only curriculum may contain • Remains the state standard • Instruction must be factual and age/grade appropriate • Gains realized through abstinence • Consequences that sexual activity is likely to produce • Unwanted sexual advances • Discussion of birth control, failure rates, and STD’s • Current laws related to sexual conduct
Highlights of HB999 Section 37-13-171, MS Code of 1972 • When choosing abstinence-plus curriculum must contain all of previous elements and • Any other programmatic component that is approved • May not include demonstrations of condom application • Factual presentation of risks and failure rates.
Highlights of HB999 Section 37-13-171, MS Code of 1972 • Other measures • No effort to teach abortion as a means to prevent birth • Boys and Girls must be separated for instruction • Requires written notice of inclusion • May offer parent education • School nurses responsible to implement program
Highlights of HB999Section 37-13-171, MS Code of 1972 • Establishment of Teen Pregnancy Prevention Task Force to study the implementation and success of these measures (17) • Specific appointments from various agencies • Legislative appointments • Community appointments
Technical Assistance • The Mississippi Department of Education, Office of Healthy Schools will provide: • A list of Approved Supplemental Resource Providers • Template for developing protocol • Set up an electronic reporting system.
“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Estelle Watts, MSN State School Nurse Consultant MDE Healthy Schools ewatts@mde.k12.ms.us Shalonda Matthews HIV/STD Coordinator MDE Healthy Schools smatthews@mde.k12.ms.us Contact Information