AGENCY TESTIMONY
Introduction and overview of NYC Public Schools' sexual health education approach
0:14:48
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128 sec
Despina Zaharakis, Senior Executive Director of the Office of School Wellness Programs at NYC Public Schools, introduces herself and colleague Sarah Cacuzzo to provide an update on sexual health education in NYC schools. She emphasizes the importance of comprehensive health education and acknowledges both progress and ongoing challenges.
- NYC mandates sexual health topics as part of required health classes in middle and high schools since 2011
- Comprehensive health education is crucial for students to make informed choices and develop healthy relationships
- The Council is thanked for its commitment to ensuring students receive this critical instruction
Despina Zaharakis
0:14:48
Good afternoon, chair Joseph, chair Lewis, and all the members of the, Education and Women and Gender Equity Committees here today.
0:14:58
I am Despina Zaharakis, senior executive director of the Office of School Wellness Programs at New York City Public Schools.
0:15:06
Joining me is Sarah Cacuzzo, director of health education in the Office of School Wellness Programs.
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We appreciate the opportunity to update you on our work to support sexual health education as part of a comprehensive quality health education in New York City Schools, which supports our chancellor's commitment to promoting wellness.
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In addition, we are pleased to update you on the implementation of the 2018 recommendations of the sex ed task force.
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New York City Public Schools is proud that we mandate the inclusion of sexual health topics as part of the 1 semester health class required for middle school students and the 1 semester required for high school students.
0:15:52
The inclusion of sexual health education goes beyond the New York State requirement for comprehensive health education and is something we in New York City Public Schools have mandated since 2,001.
0:16:04
I'm so I'm sorry, 2011.
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Comprehensive medically accurate and age appropriate health, education from kindergarten through high school is a critical critical part of a student's education.
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As the classroom as the classroom and in society as in the classroom and in society, students must be prepared to make healthy, informed choices, develop nurturing relationships, and thrive in a diverse and challenging world.
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Health education provides students with the skills and knowledge to be able to do that.
0:16:38
We have made great progress over the years to ensure all our students receive health education, but we also know that we have more work to do.
0:16:48
I would like to thank the Council for its long standing commitment to ensuring that New York City public school students receive this critical instruction.
