Research

Currently, in the state of Alabama there is no requirement to teach sex education in grades
K-12 in the public schools. If a school is teaching a sex education class the law doesn’t require
the course to be medically accurate, effective, or inclusive (URGE, 2020). Since there is no
mandate to teach sex education the curriculum, if taught, must emphasize abstinence (SIECUS,
2020). Only teaching abstinence can be harmful to the youth as younger children are engaging in
sexual activity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Alabama high
school Youth Risk Behavior Survey says that, 40 percent of students have said they have had
sexual intercourse (CDC, 2019). With this data it’s clear that without sex education or only
teaching abstinence isn’t effective in youth populations. From the same study we also see that 45
percent of students say they didn’t use a condom during their last sexual intercourse (CDC,
2019). If students aren’t getting the information around sexual intercourse or the education of
why wearing a condom is important the risk of sexual activity may be unknown to the youth in
Alabama. Americans health rankings states that, Alabama’s teen birth rate in 2019 was 27 births
per 1,000 females compared to the national average of 18 births per 1,000 females (AHR, 2019).
The only way to decrease teen pregnancies in Alabama is to teach students how to avoid
pregnancy. Once the students have the tools and information necessary only then will we see a
decrease. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention also states that, current legislation in
Alabama doesn’t require the curriculum to be delivered by trained instructors or follow federal or
national standards, guidelines or recommendations (CDC, 2017). Another issue is that students
are unaware of the sexual transmitted diseases they can acquire when sexually active. According
to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 80 percent of high school students said they
have never been tested for a sexually transmitted disease in the last 12 months while sexually
active (CDC, 2019). This shows a lack of understanding in where they can get tested and why its
important to get tested. Some sexual transmitted diseases are untreatable, and its important
children know where and how they can get tested.

“Alabama State Profile.” SIECUS, 6 Aug. 2020, siecus.org/state_profile/alabama-state-profile/.

“Analysis of State Health Education Laws - Alabama Summary Report.” Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention , Nov. 2017,
www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/policy/pdf/summary_report_factsheets/Alabama.pdf .

“High School YRBS- Alabama 2019 Results .” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ,
2019, nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline/App/Results.aspx?LID=AL.

“Teen Birth Rates In Alabama .” Americas Health Rankings, 2019,

www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/health-of-women-and-children/measure/
TeenBirth_MCH/state/AL .
“What Are the Current Sex Education Requirements for k-12 Public Schools in Alabama.” Unite
for Reproductive and Gender Equity, URGE, Apr. 2020,
urge.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/The-State-of-Sex-Education-in-Alabama.pdf .

The gaps that exist in sexual education programs in Alabama can be harmful to the youth. The
separation between medically accurate information and non-medically accurate information can
allow individuals to not fully understand their options when pertaining to sexual intercourse,
STDs/STIs, and different forms of protection against pregnancy. Another gap we see is the
teaching of abstinence when the youth in Alabama are already engaging in sexual activity.
Abstinence only programs can’t achieve the desired effect when students are already engaging in
behavior that doesn’t relate to abstinence. The disconnect we see in the information being taught
and what students are already doing is harmful to the students and their knowledge of sexual
education. The proposal I would like to make is to ensure that students are receiving a
comprehensive sex education in grades K-12. This information would be medically accurate and
age appropriate for each grade. This would allow students to get a full understanding of new
topics each year while in grade school. This proposal will help the youth make the best choices
for themselves when engaging in sexual activities.
 Policy Proposal

The policy I would like to propose is that every public-school K-12 in Alabama would be
required to give a comprehensive sexual education program to their students. This program
would offer medically accurate information, be effective for the students age, and be inclusive to
all sexualities. Alabama’s public schools don’t require a sexual education program and it’s
important that students learn this information to make informed and well balanced decisions
regarding their own sexual health choices. A study showed that 45 percent of students in high
school in Alabama didn’t use a condom the last time they were sexually active. With trained
professionals teaching sexual education classes this number can decrease within the next year.
The solution for a growing problem in Alabama is to give students the ability to learn about
sexual education.

The first resource needed is to find trained teachers on sexual education. Once these teachers
are trained it will allow the course to thrive as the professional will give information that is
nationally accepted and medically accurate. Another source needed is to educate students and
parents of the new sexual education program. This can be in forms, flyers, emails, or a parent
meeting at the school. This would allow parents to understand what their children are going to be
learning and how it can change some of the decisions their children have been making. The next
resource needed is to create a new comprehensive sexual education course for each grade. This
course will have to be designed by a group of individuals who have implemented courses like
these before. This would help make sure the program would be successful. With that, another
resource would be to have someone monitor how the program is doing in the schools. Having
someone check in to make sure teachers are teaching the correct information and relaying that to
their students would be ideal. The courses could be adjusted based on teacher feedback. The last
resource needed is a budget for the program. Without a budget all other resources are
unattainable. The budget will help pay for teacher training and materials that are necessary for
the program to succeed.

The first consequences of non-compliance would be fines to schools who do not follow the
guidelines put in place. This can range from not hiring appropriate educators for the course or
refusing to teach these courses in their schools. The next consequence would be a loss of
productivity within the course. If the schools aren’t teaching these courses there is a loss of
productivity within the course causing information to be skipped over or not taught at all.
Another consequence would be a loss of trained professionals. If a school doesn’t comply with
legislation newly trained professionals won’t want to apply for a position at the school. This in
turn will hurt the program as there won’t be anyone to teach the course work to students. The last
consequence is the loss of student education. Not following the guidelines results in students
missing key information that they need. Without sexual education programs, students will
continue to have unprotected sex causing STDs/STIs and pregnancy rates will continue to
increase in the state year after year.
 FACT SHEET
Sexual Education in Alabama

Require Sexual Proposed Policy

Education in Every public-school K-12 should be required by law to teach
a comprehensive sexual education program in Alabama.
Alabama This program will help ensure each student is receiving
medically accurate information, age appropriate information,
Today! and inclusive for all sexualities. It’s a student’s right to
receive information that could better their lives and help
children understand the choices they may make regarding
sexual activity.

Sexual Education in Alabama Schools K-12

There is currently no law that schools need to teach sexual education to their students

 Some schools teach abstinence only programs when 40 percent of high school students are
already engaged in sexual intercourse.

 Alabama’s teen birth rate in 2019 was 27 births per 1,000 women compared to the national
average of 18 births per 1,000 women.

 45 percent of students in Alabama in 2019 report not using a condom the last time they had
sexual intercourse.

 In 2019, 80 percent of high school students said they have never been tested for a sexually
transmitted disease in the last 12 months while sexually active.

 Trained professionals teaching these courses will help ensure information is age appropriate to
students,

 When all sexualities are included in sexual education programs students are more willing to soak
in the information being presented to them.
If medically accurate information was available to these students, we will see a
References

decrease
“High School YRBS- in teen 2019
Alabama birth rates
Results and STDs/STIs
.” Centers in Alabama.
for Disease Control and Prevention ,
2019, nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline/App/Results.aspx?LID=AL.

“Teen Birth Rates In Alabama .” Americas Health Rankings, 2019,

www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/health-of-women-and-children/measure/
TeenBirth_MCH/state/AL .
 Phone Script

Hi my name is _____ and I live in ____ district. I am calling to ask Senator ____ to advocate for
a comprehensive sexual education course in K-12 schools across Alabama. With a sexual
education course students will be able to better understand the decisions they are making
regarding sexual activities.

Without the help of our government thousands of children in schools in Alabama will go without
medically accurate, age appropriate, and inclusively of all sexualities in sexual education
programs. These programs offer kids information that they might not learn anywhere else. Some
schools do teach sexual education in the form of abstinence only programs. This is harmful to
our youth as 40 percent of high school students are already engaged in sexual intercourse.

Without a mandate in place to hold these schools accountable for a sexual education course,
misinformation can lead students down a harmful path. These courses would help provide
students with information regarding STDs/STIs and ways to prevent pregnancy. In 2019
Alabama’s teen birth rate was higher than that of the national average. Another study in 2019
reported 80 percent high school students in Alabama were not being tested for sexually
transmitted diseases in the last 12 months while engaging sexual activity. This is a growing issue
in Alabama, and we can stop it by putting measures in place.

We can require all public schools in Alabama to have a sexual education program. With this
program we would require trained professionals to teach sexual education course materials.
These two steps will have a huge impact on the youth. Teen pregnancy rates as well as sexual
transmitted diseases will lower. Our youth is our future and we need to fight for them to have the
right to learn about their own bodies as well as others. Senator ____ I am asking you to fight for
children in K-12 public schools to receive a comprehensive sexual education.
 Letter to Editor

Dear Editor:

I’m writing to you regarding a lack of sexual education within the Alabama school systems.
Currently, there is no requirement for any student in grades K-12 in the state to learn about
sexual education. This lack of education is clearly evident as data shows that Alabama’s teen
pregnancy rates are higher than that of the national average. We can no longer ignore a growing
problem when there are solutions to fix it.

The policy we can propose is that every public-school would be required to give students a
comprehensive sexual education program that is geared toward their age and is medically
accurate. Right now, students in some schools are learning abstinence only until marriage when
data shows that 40 percent of Alabama students are already engaged in sexual activities. With a
comprehensive program in place students will be able to access, understand and ask for more
information that is most useful to them in knowing their risks before engaging in sexual
activities.

We need not only parents, but the students themselves to fight for a policy that would help our
youth be armed with information regarding sexual health. With properly train professionals
teaching these courses we can ensure students understand the risk of pregnancy and sexually
transmitted diseases. When people, especially young adults, understand their bodies this allows
them to make informed decisions on their own sexual well being. Implementing a statewide
program will serve to better all of our communities in the state of Alabama. As young people
make better decisions about their sexual health we will see a better future for so many who will
not end up as teen parents or with lifelong diseases that could have been prevented.

Sincerely,
Carsen Swallen