Some Florida school districts are facing pressure from state officials to roll back comprehensive sex education programs in favor of abstinence-focused lessons. The Florida Department of Education, led by an appointee of Governor Ron DeSantis, has directed some districts to scale back instruction on sexual activity, contraceptives, anatomy, and consent. This move reflects a nationwide trend in conservative states to restrict what students can learn about their bodies. Advocates are concerned that limiting sex education could lead to a lack of knowledge about safe sex, relationship violence, and adolescent development, particularly at a time when sexually transmitted infections are on the rise and access to abortion is being restricted.
Recent changes to state law require the Florida Department of Education to approve school districts’ curriculum on reproductive health and disease education if they use teaching materials other than the state’s designated textbook. Around a dozen districts in Florida have been instructed to restrict their sex education plans by state officials. Advocates argue that comprehensive sex education is crucial for preventing teen pregnancy, HIV transmission, and dating violence, as well as promoting healthy relationships and delaying sexual initiation. Research has shown that comprehensive sex education can lead to teens waiting longer to have sex for the first time, reduced rates of teen pregnancy and STIs, and the prevention of sexual abuse.
The Florida Department of Education defended the state’s approach, emphasizing the importance of abstinence and recent changes to state law that require schools to teach that “reproductive roles” are “binary, stable, and unchangeable.” School districts like Broward County Public Schools have been instructed to remove pictures of reproductive anatomy and demonstrations on using contraceptives from their curriculum. Terms like “abuse, consent, and domestic violence” have also been deemed inappropriate for certain grade levels. However, concerns about the curriculum have been inconsistent across districts and were communicated verbally rather than in writing.
Under Florida law, schools are not required to teach sex education, but if they choose to do so, they must emphasize abstinence as the “expected standard.” Parents have the right to opt their students out of sex education instruction, but surveys show that the general public overwhelmingly supports schools teaching comprehensive sex education. Advocates argue that politics and religion should be kept out of the discussion, and instead, the focus should be on science and what works best for young people. Comprehensive sex education has been shown to be effective in promoting healthy behaviors and preventing negative outcomes related to sexual health.
