Overview

• Researchers found 42 states require some sex education topic, yet only 19 mandate medical accuracy and five of those limit accuracy to specific subjects.
• Just 58% of public school students live in jurisdictions that require sex education to be medically accurate, according to the analysis.
• Abstinence instruction is mandated in 34 states, a focus the authors note lacks evidence of benefits for adolescent sexual health.
• Parental control provisions are widespread, with 34 states allowing opt-outs and five requiring opt-ins that can further limit classroom reach.
• Key topics are frequently omitted, with only 20 states requiring contraception, 11 condoms, 9 consent, and 12 sexual orientation, and Oklahoma and Texas mandate stigmatizing messaging in the latter.