Sponsored by: Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-San Antonio) and Senator Rodney Ellis (D-Houston)
Summary: Texas law does not currently require schools to provide sexuality education courses. If a school does choose to offer a sexuality education course, Texas mandates that the program must stress abstinence as the preferred behavior for unmarried persons as a way to prevent unintended pregnancies and STIs. But, most of abstinence-only sex education programs in Texas schools give misleading or outright false information about condoms and contraceptives, leading teens to believe that condoms and birth control are not effective. HB 714/SB 515, also known as Education Works!, would have required schools to still discuss abstinence - but also require information about testing and prevention for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and complete, medically accurate information about the health benefits and risks of contraception and condoms. The bill also included strategies to encourage young people to develop healthy communication with their parents and peers, and help build other living skills such as goal-setting and responsible decision-making about sexuality. UPDATE: During a House floor debate over an education-related bill, SB 283, House legislators attempted to introduce amendments that would have required information taught in sexuality education courses be medically accurate. Unfortunately, the House bill sponsor Rep. Mark Shelton (R-Fort Worth), who is a doctor, chose not to accept these amendments. They were then withdrawn after a point of order ruled they were unrelated to the subject of SB 283. Sb 283 pertained to School Health Advisory Councils (SHACs), locally appointed councils whose function (among others) is to recommend sexuality education curricula to their school boards.
Texas law does not currently require schools to provide sexuality education courses.
If a school does choose to offer a sexuality education course, Texas mandates that the program must stress abstinence as the preferred behavior for unmarried persons as a way to prevent unintended pregnancies and STIs. But, most of abstinence-only sex education programs in Texas schools give misleading or outright false information about condoms and contraceptives, leading teens to believe that condoms and birth control are not effective.
HB 714/SB 515, also known as Education Works!, would have required schools to still discuss abstinence - but also require information about testing and prevention for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and complete, medically accurate information about the health benefits and risks of contraception and condoms.
The bill also included strategies to encourage young people to develop healthy communication with their parents and peers, and help build other living skills such as goal-setting and responsible decision-making about sexuality.
UPDATE: During a House floor debate over an education-related bill, SB 283, House legislators attempted to introduce amendments that would have required information taught in sexuality education courses be medically accurate. Unfortunately, the House bill sponsor Rep. Mark Shelton (R-Fort Worth), who is a doctor, chose not to accept these amendments. They were then withdrawn after a point of order ruled they were unrelated to the subject of SB 283. Sb 283 pertained to School Health Advisory Councils (SHACs), locally appointed councils whose function (among others) is to recommend sexuality education curricula to their school boards.
PPNT Position: Strongly Support—Texas currently has one of the highest teen birth and teen pregnancy rates in the nation. Abstinence-only sex education programs are not the solution to this program – these programs have been proven to be ineffective at reducing teen sexual activity, nor do they reduce teen pregnancy or STI rates. In fact, some studies show that students who go through these programs are less likely to use contraception and condoms to protect themselves when they do become sexually active.However, responsible, complete, and accurate sex education programs that discuss abstinence AND the benefits of condoms and contraceptives have been proven to prevent teen pregnancies, STIs, and instill behaviors in young people that can help them protect their health for years to come.That is why Texas should have enacted Education Works! - it was a common-sense policy that respected and valued Texas teens, trusting them to make responsible decisions by arming them with all the information they need about sexuality and prevention methods that are based on science, not ideology. Complete, accurate sex education is the best way to teach young people about making responsible and healthy decisions about sexuality and relationships that are consistent with their family values, and that will help them to mature into healthy, safe, responsible adults.
Strongly Support—Texas currently has one of the highest teen birth and teen pregnancy rates in the nation.
Abstinence-only sex education programs are not the solution to this program – these programs have been proven to be ineffective at reducing teen sexual activity, nor do they reduce teen pregnancy or STI rates. In fact, some studies show that students who go through these programs are less likely to use contraception and condoms to protect themselves when they do become sexually active.However, responsible, complete, and accurate sex education programs that discuss abstinence AND the benefits of condoms and contraceptives have been proven to prevent teen pregnancies, STIs, and instill behaviors in young people that can help them protect their health for years to come.That is why Texas should have enacted Education Works! - it was a common-sense policy that respected and valued Texas teens, trusting them to make responsible decisions by arming them with all the information they need about sexuality and prevention methods that are based on science, not ideology. Complete, accurate sex education is the best way to teach young people about making responsible and healthy decisions about sexuality and relationships that are consistent with their family values, and that will help them to mature into healthy, safe, responsible adults.
Latest Action: 5/12/2009 - HB 741 was left pending in the House Public Education committee. 5/26/2009 - SB 515 was left pending in the Senate Education committee.
5/12/2009 - HB 741 was left pending in the House Public Education committee.
5/26/2009 - SB 515 was left pending in the Senate Education committee.
Recorded Votes: None.
None.
