Uneven Progress: An assessment of sex education policies and practices in California public schools

California has an established leadership history of promoting the sexual and reproductive health of its adolescent population. It has paved the way for other states by pioneering a legislative emphasis on evidence-based, medically accurate sex education. In 2003, the State Senate passed the landmark California Comprehensive Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Prevention Education Act (SB 71), which strengthened and clarified the Education Code. The current study aims to examine the status of sex education in California public schools following implementation of SB 71. A survey was distributed to a representative sample of unified school district officials in California (representing 33 districts). A significant number of districts had policies which did not comply with the requirements of SB71. For example, 21% of districts had non-compliant policies that parents must sign a permission slip for their child to participate in HIV/AIDS prevention education. Additionally, 19% reported that in their instruction, birth control methods were mentioned, but most of the time was spent on the benefits of abstinence. Furthermore, 16% of districts reported that they teach that “condoms are not an effective means of preventing pregnancies and STDs/HIV”. Moreover, many school districts did not cover sex education topics which are mandated by the law, such as emergency contraception. Several districts combined different sections of textbooks and curricula, often omitting parts of or adding to a curriculum. Some districts used written materials that were out-of-date. In spite of legislative support for quality sex education, there remains substantial room for improvement in school-based instruction in California.