Sex Education USA State Laws and Regulations

Presenting Data from the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS)


Map of Sex Education Mandates in Each US State (including DC)

  • Only 7 states mandate sex education, HIV/STI education, and comprehensive healthy relationship content: California, Hawaii, Maryland, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, and Vermont.
  • 30 states mandate sex education.
  • 37 states mandate HIV/STI education.
  • 9 states mandate comprehensive healthy relationship education.
  • 22 states mandate some healthy relationship education.
  • 5 states have no mandates.

The map above displays information regarding state mandates which often have the full force and effect of law. See "Definitions" below for the definition of comprehensive healthy relationship content vs. some healthy relationship content.


Map of Abstinence and Contraception Education Requirements by US State (including DC)

  • 22 states require that abstinence is stressed in sex education and do not require that contraception is covered.
  • Only 8 states require extensive contraception lessons be taught in sex education.
  • 8 different states require some coverage of contraception methods.
  • The remaining 35 states do not require any contraception lessons be taught in sex education.
  • 34 states require abstinence be stressed in sex education and 7 states require that it is simply covered.

The map above shows the state education policy requirements IF sex education or HIV/STI instruction is provided. For example, Idaho does not mandate sex education nor HIV/STI education, but if sex education or HIV/STI education is provided, it must stress abstinence. See "Definitions" below for definitions of stress vs. cover abstinence and limited vs. expansive contraception instruction.


Consent and Promotion of Heterosexual Marriage in Sex Education Programs by US State (including DC)

  • Only 9 states require that consent be taught in their sex education program.
  • 19 states have a sex education program that promotes heterosexual marriage.
  • Consent and freedom to choose a partner regardless of sexual orientation both teach students to have autonomy over their bodies.

The map above displays whether state education policies promote heterosexual marriage IF sex education is provided, and whether state education policies require consent be taught IF healthy relationship instruction is provided. See "Definitions" below for consent and promotion of heterosexual marriage.


Definitions:

Healthy Relationship Instruction: includes at least one of the following components: communication skills, decision-making skills, violence prevention, child sexual abuse, consent, or sex trafficking

Some Healthy Relationship Instruction: the State policies require a unit on healthy relationships with no further details

Comprehensive Healthy Relationship Instruction: the State policies require a healthy relationships unit and give specific curriculum details so that instruction is not ambiguous

Abstinence Covered: the State policies require instruction on abstinence in addition to other contraception methods

Abstinence Stressed: the State policies require that the curriculum only includes abstinence instruction and if other contraception methods are mentioned they are deemphasized

Contraception Coverage, Limited: vague instruction on some methods, such as condoms, and emphasis on the failure rate of other forms of contraception

Contraception Coverage, Expansive: instruction on many if not all FDA-approved forms of contraception and how to use them

Consent: the affirmative, conscious, and voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity

Promotion of Heterosexual Marriage: the State policies require instruction to promote heterosexual, monogamous marriage as the only way to prevent unwanted pregnancy and HIV/STIs


How can you enact change?

  • Learn about laws that exist within your own state and community.
  • Form coalitions within your community to advocate for more comprehensive, inclusive sex education in your school district.
  • Advocate to remove discriminatory sex education policies.
  • Contact senators and representatives and tell them to support progressive sex education legislation.
  • Talk with the your teens about what they are learning in school. Talk with them about healthy relationships, sex, sexuality, body image, and making healthy decisions.

All data reported in this storyboard was sourced from SIECUS' Sex Ed State Law & Policy Chart updated November 2020, connect below.