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Local and State Organizing Opportunities in Sex Education

Local and State Organizing Opportunities in Sex Education. Meredith Schonfeld-Hicks & Meghan Rapp State Strategies Program Managers Advocates for Youth. Purpose. Inform SEAT participants about important sex education trends and victories at the state and local level. Objectives.

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Local and State Organizing Opportunities in Sex Education

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  1. Local and State Organizing Opportunities in Sex Education Meredith Schonfeld-Hicks & Meghan Rapp State Strategies Program Managers Advocates for Youth

  2. Purpose • Inform SEAT participants about important sex education trends and victories at the state and local level

  3. Objectives • Understand basic trends in state sex education policy • Understand the role of youth advocates within the larger movement • Recognize ways to take action on sex education at the state and local level

  4. Areas for Impact • Federal Policy and Funding • State Policy and Funding • School District/Board • School Health Advisory Councils • School Policy and Curriculum • Individual Teachers

  5. Policy and Dialogue Trends • Local changes moving faster • North Carolina • Parma, OH • Medical accuracy language • Minnesota • Wisconsin • Ohio • Strength in statistics and parent polling • Economy & budgets affecting sex education

  6. Title V Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Funding • Federal and State Issue • Clear Example of Advocacy in Action • 22 States and the District of Columbia • California • Washington • President took it out of FY10 budget (Yay!) • Reinstated in Health Care Reform (Boo!)

  7. State Policy Overview 22 states and DC mandate that public schools teach sex education

  8. 34 states require that abstinence be stressed or covered when taught as part of sex education if sex education is taught

  9. 35 states and DC mandate HIV/STI education

  10. Washington-Healthy Youth Act • Signed into law by Governor Chris Gregoire on May 2, 2007 • When school districts choose to offer sexuality education, they teach medically accurate and comprehensive sex education  • Individual school districts decide whether to teach sex education and which curricula is used   • Implementation phase

  11. Florida- Healthy Teens Act • Any public school that receives state funding and offers sexual health programs shall provide comprehensive, medically accurate, and age appropriate factual information • Moved unexpectedly in response to health statistics and polling in 2009 • Push to add it to House & Senate Pre K – 12 Committee agendas for 2010

  12. Florida Health Teens Campaign Healthy Teens and Prevention First Press Conference during Planned Parenthood’slobby days at the capitol, March 2008

  13. North Carolina- Healthy Youth Act • Signed into law by Governor Bev Purdue on June 30, 2009 • Requires local school systems to offer Reproductive Health and Safety Education • Advocacy efforts included 6,000+ postcards, coverage in 130+ articles, phone banking, legislative visits, and online mobilization • Law must be implemented Fall 2010

  14. North Carolina Teen Health Now!

  15. Wisconsin- Healthy Youth Act • Signed into law by Governor Jim Doyle on February 24, 2010 • Over 50 diverse coalition members • Ensures that LGBT youth receive non-biased sex education materials

  16. Wisconsin HYA: 5 Key Components • Medically accurate, age appropriate sex education including information about abstinence and contraceptives • School districts that opt to not teach sex education must send a notice home to parents • State apply for federal funds that are allocated for evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention programs • Deleted a provision that forbade volunteer health care providers from providing sex education instruction • Supports the current ability of parents to opt children out of sex education curriculum

  17. Oregon • State Board of Education unanimously approved revisions to Oregon Administrative Rule about Human Sexuality Education • Combined with Oregon’s new Human Sexuality Education Law (signed into law June 2, 2009), Oregon now has one of the most progressive comprehensive sexuality education policies in the nation • Comprehensive sex education is now required in kindergarten through twelfth grade in all public schools.

  18. Ohio Act for Our Children’s Future • If sex education is taught, it must be comprehensive • Several hearings with youth testimony “I attended a school of excellence, yet when it came to sex education I was denied scientific and medically accurate information for preventing STIs and pregnancy. Denying access to the latest scientific information in any other subject would be appalling, yet it is acceptable for Loveland City School District and others across Ohio to teach students misinformation. And it’s not only appalling, it just doesn’t make sense.” Jamie Royce, Activist, Advocates for Youth

  19. Parma, OH • Student pushing policy change at district level • Organized for 19 months • Provided testimony at School Board meeting • Earned extensive media coverage • Met with Superintendent • Invited to meetings with District Staff Danny Sparks, Activist

  20. Partnerships and Coalitions • State work happens in coalition with lots of planning

  21. Coalition Partners • Reproductive Health Organizations • Faith/Religious Organizations • LGBT groups • Youth • Parents • Education Community • HIV/AIDS Organizations • Universities/Researchers • ???

  22. Why you need those partners…

  23. National Abstinence Education Association • “Comprised of leading abstinence educators and supporters who represent 1.5 million children across the U.S.” • Annual Lobby Day in Washington, DC • Bus in “500” high school students from rural Georgia and other areas of the U.S. • Valerie Huber, President • “It is important to note that many students who attended this event were inspired by the recent election of President Obama and are counting on him to help maintain these [abstinence-only] programs in their schools and communities.”

  24. NAEA cont. • Parents for Truth Campaign • Engages parents with fear based information about sex education programs • Fundraising tactic

  25. NAEA’s Attack Ads in Massachusetts

  26. Young People in the Movement • First hand experience • Credible sources • Voting constituency • Natural organizers

  27. Fight Back! Stack the SHAC! • School Health Advisory Council • An organized group of parents and community members that address adolescent health issues • Collaborate, educate, persuade and assist in a volunteer capacity • Requirement for many school districts • Texas • Michigan • Georgia

  28. Arizona Colorado Delaware Georgia Indiana Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Missouri Nebraska Nevada New Jersey New Mexico New York South Carolina Texas West Virginia Wisconsin SHACs cont. Health, Sex and/or HIV education

  29. Resources • www.advocatesforyouth.org - Advocates’ home for parents & professionals • www.amplifyyourvoice.org - Online community for youth activists • www.siecus.org - SIECUS State Profiles • State coalition websites

  30. Thank you! Meredith Schonfeld-Hicks meredith@advocatesforyouth.org Meghan Rapp meghan@advocatesforyouth.org

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