New Jersey's Sex Ed Report Card
Young people deserve to have the information, resources, and skills they need to protect their health and build their future — without shame or judgment. Sex education can equip young people with the skills they need for a lifetime of good health, including the ability to have healthy relationships, make decisions for themselves, think critically about the world, be a good ally to those who are marginalized, and love themselves for who they are.
In New Jersey, we know a lot of great sex education is being provided, but we also know that sex education can be underfunded, not prioritized, and often politicized. Based on the findings of New Jersey’s Sex Ed Report Card, there are multiple areas for improvement.
New Jersey’s Sex Ed Report Card contains several key recommendations to improve upon our state’s sex education policies. These recommendations seek to ensure that all students, regardless of what school they go to or which teacher they have, received high-quality, age-appropriate, accurate, and comprehensive sex education, that does not stigmatize or shame young people or withhold critical information. These recommendations look to educators as leaders in sex education, and advocate for increased resources and commitments from schools and districts to ensure teachers can get the training they want and the quality resources and curricula they need. And finally, these recommendations call upon statewide legislators and decision makers to provide policy on sex education that is even stronger than what we currently have, and support educators by providing resources, recommended curricula, and methods to assess the content being delivered in classrooms.
In New Jersey, we know a lot of great sex education is being provided, but we also know that sex education can be underfunded, not prioritized, and often politicized. Based on the findings of New Jersey’s Sex Ed Report Card, there are multiple areas for improvement.
New Jersey’s Sex Ed Report Card contains several key recommendations to improve upon our state’s sex education policies. These recommendations seek to ensure that all students, regardless of what school they go to or which teacher they have, received high-quality, age-appropriate, accurate, and comprehensive sex education, that does not stigmatize or shame young people or withhold critical information. These recommendations look to educators as leaders in sex education, and advocate for increased resources and commitments from schools and districts to ensure teachers can get the training they want and the quality resources and curricula they need. And finally, these recommendations call upon statewide legislators and decision makers to provide policy on sex education that is even stronger than what we currently have, and support educators by providing resources, recommended curricula, and methods to assess the content being delivered in classrooms.
New Jersey State Board of Education Adopts New Sex Ed Standards
On June 2, 2020, the State Board of Education passed the new Student Learning Standards for all curriculum areas, including Comprehensive Health and Physical Education, which includes sex education. New Jersey’s previous sex education standards were robust but in need of improvement. These newly-adopted standards were modeled on the National Sexuality Education Standards - the gold standard for sex education - and feature an updated, more comprehensive curriculum that includes expanded content topics, including LGBTQ identities and consent, and removed language that relied on the gender binary and was stigmatizing and shaming.
Especially in light of the increased and necessary on systemic racism and violence against Black communities, it’s important to recognize how sex education is an equity issue. A young person’s ability to receive high-quality, comprehensive sex education should not depend on their district, their school, or their teacher, and these new standards are one step in the right direction.
This was a victory for teachers, families, and students in New Jersey.
Especially in light of the increased and necessary on systemic racism and violence against Black communities, it’s important to recognize how sex education is an equity issue. A young person’s ability to receive high-quality, comprehensive sex education should not depend on their district, their school, or their teacher, and these new standards are one step in the right direction.
This was a victory for teachers, families, and students in New Jersey.
YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO THE INFORMATION AND SKILLS THEY NEED TO PROTECT THEIR HEALTH.Young people should get high-quality, age-appropriate, medically accurate information and answers to their questions about sex and relationships — without feeling shamed or judged.
Young people need to understand what a healthy relationship looks like and have the opportunity to practice good communication skills before they become sexually active. Young people need good sex ed — and we're making sure that's happening in New Jersey. Learn more, and help us take action today. |
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CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALSHelp us thank Governor Murphy and the Department of Education for standing up for New Jersey students and supporting the newly adopted standards for sex education! The new standards strengthen the existing standards and feature an updated, more comprehensive curriculum that includes expanded content topics, including LGBTQ identities and consent, and removed language that relied on the gender binary and was stigmatizing and shaming.
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TAKE ACTION
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For more information, please contact us at info@sexednj.org
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