Advocate for Effective Sex Education

Here are a few examples for what you could say to school, district or state leaders. 

• I want my kids to learn what they need to grow up safe, healthy, and confident.  

• Age-appropriate sex education prepares young people for today’s world and sets them up for success in all their relationships.  

• Young people should get age-appropriate, medically accurate information and answers to their questions about sex and relationships without being shamed or judged. 

• Young people have the right to receive the information and skills they need to protect their health. 

• Sex education reinforces the role of parents or trusted adults in decision-making about sex and relationships, and helps parents communicate with their children on these topics. 

• Sex education helps protect young people from misinformation they get online and from peers. 

• Sex education that teaches about relationships, diversity, and self-esteem helps young people grow up to be respectful, confident, and conscientious adults. 

• Young people deserve the information and skills they need to make healthy decisions about sex and relationships, now and in the future. 

Does medically-accurate, age-appropriate sex education work? The research says yes.  Here’s a summary of the data. 

The Community Action Toolkit (from SIECUS: Sex Ed For Social Change) gives you the tools you need to become knowledgeable about sex education, build support in your state or community, implement sound policies, and institute or defend effective sex education programs that support and affirm young people’s right to honest information. The Toolkit is designed to serve as a resource for all advocates: students, parents, teachers, school administrators, health professionals, youth-serving professionals, policymakers, and concerned community members. (SIECUS also sends great email updates. Sign up here.) 

Advocates for Youth is a leader in advocating for effective sex ed. Their Honest Sex Education page has helpful links for how to get involved, learn more and join existing campaigns and a great sex ed toolkit about how parents can advocate for better sex education.  

Planned Parenthood Action Fundexplains the major issues in sex education and provides links to get involved in local work.  

Working to Institutionalize Sex Ed (WISE) Toolkit focuses on helping districts implement sex education and has lots of tools and resources. Click  here.