What Does it Mean to Become an Advocate? (continued)

What Does Comprehensive Sexuality Education Include?
Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education: Kindergarten - 12th Grade is a publication that can help you evaluate the program or curriculum at your child's school. It identifies six key concept areas that are included in a comprehensive sexuality education program. It also provides age-appropriate information and messages for 36 sexuality-related topics. For a free copy of the Guidelines, go to www.siecus.org/pubs/guidelines/ guidelines.pdf. A free copy of the Spanish version, Gua Para Una Educacion Sexual Integral Para La Juventud Hispana/Latina: Kindergarten - 12 Grado, is available at www.siecus.org/pubs/Hispanic- Latino_Guidelines_spanish.pdf. If you don't have Internet access, call SIECUS at 212/819-9770, extension 0, for order information.

Each State Decides What Young People Will Learn at School
States vary in their approaches to sexuality education. Although they can enact a mandate for sexuality or STD/HIV education courses, most do not. Instead, they let local school districts decide for themselves. In fact, less than half of the states require that some form of sexuality education be taught in the schools.
Whether or not a course mandate is in place, states can dictate content for those sexuality or STD/HIV education courses that schools choose to teach. For example, content mandates for sexuality education courses in some states require an abstinenceonly- until-marriage message. Other states require teaching STD/HIV prevention methods.
To determine if your state has course or content mandates, check the SIECUS web site at www.siecus.org/school/sex_ed/ mandate/mand0000.html.

10 Characteristics of an Effective Sexuality Education Program

Research shows that effective sexuality education programs share a number of common characteristics. They:

1. focus on reducing small numbers of sexual behaviors
2. are based on theories that have been effective in reducing other risky behaviors
   
3. give a clear message about abstaining from sexual activity as well as using contraception
   
4. provide basic accurate information
   
5. include activities that address peer and social pressures related to sex
   
6. allow students to practice communication, negotiation, and refusal skills
   
7. use a variety of teaching methods
   
8. are tailored to the age, culture, and experience of students
   
9. last a sufficient length of time
10. are led by teachers who are genuinely interested in the topic and receive adequate training

Adapted from D. Kirby, Effective Curricula and Their Common Characteristics (Santa Cruz, CA: ETR Associates, www.etr.org/recapp/programs/effectiveprograms.htm). For more information call ETR Associates at 831/438-4060.

Parents Take Action: Stories from the Front Lines

Fighting Fear-Based Messages

A mother in Bradenton, FL, found out that her daughter attended a presentation at school that featured Pam Stenzel, a national abstinence-only-until-marriage and anti-abortion speaker.The parent believed Ms. Stenzel's presentation provided inaccurate information and was upset that the messages contradicted her own views.

After learning that Ms. Stenzel's program indeed presents fearbased messages, uses inaccurate statistics about STDs, exaggerates condom failure rates, and is biased about abortion, the mom brought the story to the press and local organizations. She also tracked down a Florida policy that requires that all health education, including that provided by guest speakers, provide medically accurate information. Once they were informed of this state policy, the Bradenton School Board assured the parent that they would not invite Ms. Stenzel to speak at their school again.