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Jerry Brown Signs Sex Ed Law for Schools

While most California school districts offer sexual education courses, participation is currently voluntary. Under the new mandate students can only avoid the classes with parental consent. It will also update instruction relating to HIV and require educators talk about a range of gender identities.

California students will need to take sexual education courses unless their parents explicitly have them exempted under legislation signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday.

 

While most school districts offer sexual education courses, participation is currently voluntary. Assembly Bill 329 would change that, saying students can only skip the classes with parental consent. It will also update instruction relating to HIV and require educators talk about the range of gender identities.

Another education bill earning Brown’s signature, Senate Bill 695, would compel school districts that mandate health classes as a condition of graduation to include material about sexual harassment and violence, including the “yes means yes” standard of affirmative consent.

Students could also learn about mass deportations to Mexico during the Great Depression thanks to Brown signing Assembly Bill 146, which will have the State Board of Education consider the topic when devising history and social science curricula.

 

Daniel Luzer is GOVERNING's news editor.
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