REMARKS
Current state of sex education requirements in New York
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69 sec
Council Member Joseph outlines the current state and city requirements for health and sex education in New York schools. She highlights the gaps in comprehensive sexual health education and challenges in implementation.
- New York state requires health education K-12, including mental health and substance abuse prevention
- State mandates AIDS education with parental opt-out, but not comprehensive sexual health education
- New York City attempts to address this gap, but faces challenges in quality, participation, and teacher training
- Lack of transparency regarding the sexual health curriculum, with an unanswered FOIL request from NYCLU
Rita Joseph
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Currently, New York state law requires that all schools provide health educations to students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
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This includes instruction on mental health, discouraging substance abuse, and promoting attitudes and behaviors that enhance overall well-being and human dignity.
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In addition, the states require requires that all schools provide educational aids with an opt out option available for parents who do not wish for their child to participate in instruction.
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However, the state does not require comprehensive sexual health education.
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While New York City public schools attempts to address this deficit by requiring sexual health instruction beyond the state mandated aids curriculum, challenges persist around the quality of instruction.
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Full student participation, and adequate teacher training.
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To add to these challenges, New York City Public School has yet to fulfill a freedom of information law request which seeks transparency regarding its health sexual health curriculum filed by New York Civil Liberties Union over a year ago.
