The AP (1/10, Hefling) reports that a "coalition of health and education groups" on Monday released a new set of sexual education guidelines, noting that the "recommendations to states and school districts seek to encourage age-appropriate discussions about sex, bullying and healthy relationships - starting with a foundation even before second grade. By presenting minimum standards that schools can use to formulate school curriculums for each age level, the groups hope that schools can build a sequential foundation that in the long term will better help teens as they grow into adults." The AP lists the groups in the coalition as Advocates for Youth, the American Association of Health Education, the American School Health Association, the National Education Association - Health Information Network, the Society of State Leaders of Health and Physical Education, and the Future of Sex Education Initiative.
Nirvi Shah writes at the Education Week (1/10) "Curriculum Matters" blog that the standards "say that by the end of 2nd grade, students should be able to use the proper name for body parts, including male and female anatomy. By the end of 5th grade, they should be able to define sexual abuse and harassment. By the end of high school, they should be able to describe common symptoms of and treatments for sexually transmitted diseases including HIV." The article suggests that the standards form a counterpoint to "the federal government's continued support for abstinence-only sex education programs," noting that several states are seeking a more inclusive sex education curriculum. KWTX-TV Waco, TX (1/10) also covers this story on its website.
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