SB 5395 mandates comprehensive sex ed in Washington schools
April 9, 2020
Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill on March 27 requiring comprehensive sexual education to be taught in public schools in the state of Washington. The bill will change how sex ed is taught in grades K-12.
Requirements of SB 5395
According to the bill, new sex ed curriculum must be evidence-informed and medically and scientifically accurate. The bill also states that the curriculum taught must be age-appropriate.
The bill requires that public schools teach sex ed that teaches students how to prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and unintended pregnancies. The bill also requires instruction that promotes healthy relationships, identifies and responds to sexual violence and emphasizes the importance of consent.
The bill states abstinence cannot be the only method taught for preventing STDs and unintended pregnancies. Abstinence can be taught as a method of prevention, along with teaching about contraceptives and other disease prevention.
Schools will be able to choose which curricula they feel is best for their community. Schools will also have the option to develop their own curricula, as long as it meets the requirements of SB 5395.
Parents and guardians can choose to have their children excused from any sex ed taught in school. They may also request to review the curriculum that is going to be taught.
ASCWU Lobbyists
Zackary Turner, ASCWU VP for Legislative Affairs, has lobbied for the bill in Olympia from January until March. Turner thinks the bill will be helpful not only for grades K-12, but for everyone, including college students.
“The way we think it impacts higher education is by teaching consent and healthy relationships,” Turner said. “We really believe that our students need to know about these things by the time they get to college. It’s something that will really help lower numbers of sexual assault and domestic violence on campus.”
Turner shared his experience with sex ed when he was in middle and high school.
“I’m a gay man. When I was in middle school, my sex ed teacher told me that gay people don’t exist … when she would address what sex for queer people looks like, she would make a lot of homophobic remarks.” Turner said, “I think that was really not helpful for me as a person, being told that being gay wasn’t normal.”
Turner said that his school district was among those that don’t teach students about condoms, abortions and other contraceptives and safe sex practices.
ASCWU Legislative Liaison Nancy Canales-Montiel also lobbied for the bill. She thinks the bill will help with keeping people safe and informed on how to stay healthy.
“Studies show repeatedly that sexual assault, violence and other things like teen pregnancy are linked to poor or abstinence-only sex educaiton,” Canales-Montiel said. “By implementing this and teaching children at a young age, they will grow up with a safer and healthier culture.”
Canales-Montiel said although these conversations may be scary for some, they are necessary for having a healthy and informed society.
“It’s medically and scientifically accurate data that we must teach our society and our people so that we can live healthier lives,” Canales-Montiel said.“I don’t see a difference between a doctor telling you ‘eat healthy and exercise everyday’ and a sex ed teacher telling you to use preventative methods.”
Grades K-3 Curriculum
According to the Washington Office of Superintendent of Instruction (OSPI), curriculum for K-3 will not involve anything about sexual contact. Schools will be required to provide K-3 social emotional learning (SEL). SEL will teach students how to build skills in managing emotions, setting goals, establishing relationships and making decisions that support success. According to the OSPI’s website, most districts are already providing SEL. These changes will be implemented in the 2022-23 school year.
Grades 4-5 Curriculum
According to OSPI’s website, grades 4-5 will be taught about affirmative consent and bystander training. Affirmative consent is suggested to be taught in the context of hugging or horseplay. Bystander training will teach students how to safely intervene when they see sexual harassment or other similar instances. HIV and STD prevention must be taught starting no later than 5th grade. By the 2022-23 school year, public schools will be required to teach sexual education no later than 5th grade.
Grades 6-12 Curriculum
Beginning in the 2020-21 school year, public schools will be required to teach 6th-12th grade students about affirmative consent and provide bystander training. In these grades, teaching about affirmative consent is suggested by OSPI to be focused on hugs, physical contact and sexual contact. HIV and STD prevention will also be taught.
Sue Lani Madsen • Apr 10, 2020 at 10:37 pm
This quote sums up the most important of the excellent comment/rebuttal provide Joneen.Mackenzie aboive:
“Young people deserve more than contraceptives, condoms and consent.”
Teach the patterns to strive for, not simply the mechanics.to avoid worst case outcomes.
Joneen Lynn Mackenzie, RN • Apr 9, 2020 at 6:00 pm
“Studies show repeatedly that sexual assault, violence and other things like teen pregnancy are linked to poor or abstinence-only sex education,” Canales-Montiel said. “By implementing this and teaching children at a young age, they will grow up with a safer and healthier culture.”
PLEASE OUTLINE THOSE STUDIES. NONE EXIST! THIS IS FALSE!!
Canales-Montiel said although these conversations may be scary for some, they are necessary for having a healthy and informed society.
SO, WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS TEACHERS ARE GOING TO SCARE SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN ABOUT SEX TO KEEP THEM HEALTHY? ABSURD!
How about schools reach the heart of a student by teaching them the skills to form healthy relationships? We are living in a time when hope for close, committed, satisfying relationships are a pipe dream. Young people in inner cities experience never-formed families with “Baby Daddies” and suburban teens see rancorous divorce and alienation of affection for each parent. Sexual experimentation and recreational sex is the new normal. Regarding cultural influences, sexual harassment and disrespect for one another is rampant. What is needed is a road map and a life script regarding healthy relationship development. The current messages about sexual health is that sex equals danger, consequences and drama. As a public health nurse, I would like to re-frame the current message to include sex equals committed love. Instead of teaching away from consequences, teaching toward something positive and affirming. The Center for Relationship Education trains and certifies educators to teach the science of healthy relationship development for friendships, family relationships, collegial relationships and romantic attachments. Skills acquisition include: self-discovery, decision making, reclaiming one’s power through self-regulation and impulse control, managing ones’ feelings, healthy communication including conflict resolution skills, goal setting, resiliency, safe dating strategies, how to date well, partner selection skills, recognizing relationship red flags and the importance of committed love. Young people deserve more than contraceptives, condoms and consent.
The Center for Relationship Education is ushering in a new vision for hope and healthy committed satisfying relationships. No one wants to go back to the 50’s, but we do want our hearts to be nurtured because all of us desire to be loved well. The professional team at the Center for Relationship Education has scoured the research to learn what makes relationships develop and thrive. We also have learned what makes relationships fail. We have put that research and relationship skills into an interactive, engaging programming that captivates adults and adolescents alike by appealing to the heart. Today is a new day. Learning to live, love and lead well is the hope of tomorrow. Family formation, family strengthening, and relationship enhancement is a way to reduce poverty, increase child well-being and to create a better life.
“We do what we know and when we know better, we do better.” Maya Angelo