Signed by Governor Chet Culver

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires all sex education in public and private schools to be age-appropriate and research-based.

Highlights:

-Defines “research-based” information as in compliance with accepted scientific research standards and recognized as medically accurate by major professional medical organizations and agencies [sec.4.9(d)]. -Requires sex education to include information on how to help protect students from sexual exploitation over the internet [sec.1.54(a)]. -Requires that scientifically-based research in the area of human health and development be made available to public and private schools. Encourages school districts to incorporate this material as deemed appropriate [sec.1.54(b)]. -Requires the health education curriculum to include the characteristics of human papillomavirus (HPV) and the availability of a vaccine that prevents HPV [sec.2.4]. -Allows nonpublic schools to choose a sex education curriculum in accordance with doctrinal teachings, as long as it is research-based and age-appropriate [sec.4.10]. -Allows a school district to offer an abstinence-based or abstinence-only curriculum, so long as it complies with the research-based and age-appropriate standard for sex education [sec.4.11].

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires all sex education in public and private schools to be age-appropriate and research-based.

Highlights:

-Defines “research-based” information as in compliance with accepted scientific research standards and recognized as medically accurate by major professional medical organizations and agencies [sec.4.9(d)]. -Requires sex education to include information on how to help protect students from sexual exploitation over the internet [sec.1.54(a)]. -Requires that scientifically-based research in the area of human health and development be made available to public and private schools. Encourages school districts to incorporate this material as deemed appropriate [sec.1.54(b)]. -Requires the health education curriculum to include the characteristics of human papillomavirus (HPV) and the availability of a vaccine that prevents HPV [sec.2.4]. -Allows nonpublic schools to choose a sex education curriculum in accordance with doctrinal teachings, as long as it is research-based and age-appropriate [sec.4.10]. -Allows a school district to offer an abstinence-based or abstinence-only curriculum, so long as it complies with the research-based and age-appropriate standard for sex education [sec.4.11].

Full Bill Text