What are Illinois National Sexual Education Standards?
On January 9, 2012, four leading health organizations released the first-ever national standards for sexuality education in schools. Published in the Journal of School Health, the ground-breaking National Sexuality Education Standards: Core Content and Skills, K-12 provide clear, consistent, and straightforward guidance on the essential minimum, core content for sexuality education that is developmentally and age-appropriate for students in grades Kindergarten through grade 12.
The standards focus on seven topics:
Anatomy and Physiology
Puberty and Adolescent Development
Identity, Pregnancy, and Reproduction
Sexually Transmitted Diseases and HIV
Healthy Relationships
Personal Safety
The National Sexuality Education Standards are not a mandate and they are not a sexuality education curriculum. Topics are presented using performance indicators—what students should know and should be able to do by the end of grades 2, 5, 8, and 12—and are based on the National Health Education Standards.
New proposed bills will violate the constitutional rights of parents in Education and Medical. Illinois Supreme Court has made it clear that parental rights are fundamental rights, therefore, they receive strict judicial scrutiny in Illinois.
Education bills:
- HB0246 LGBT Curriculum Mandated (Effective July 1, 2020)
- SB2762 “REACH” ACT K-12
- SB3788 & HB5012 SCH CD-SEX ED/FAMILY LIFE (Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act)
- SB25 (Repeals Parental Notice of Abortion)
Medical Bills:
Analysis of National Sexuality Education Standards 2011
15 Harmful Elements Commonly Included in CSE Materials:
- SEXUALIZES CHILDREN
Normalizes child sex or
desensitizes children to sexual
things. - TEACHES CHILDREN TO
CONSENT TO SEX-May teach children how to
negotiate sexual encounters or
how to ask for or get “consent”
from other children to engage in
sexual acts with them. - PROMOTES ANAL AND ORAL
SEX-Normalizes these high-risk
sexual behaviors and may omit
vital medical facts, such as the
extremely high STI infection
rates (i.e., HIV and HPV) and the
oral and anal cancer rates of
these high-risk sex acts - PROMOTES HOMOSEXUAL/
BISEXUAL BEHAVIOR
Normalizes or promotes
acceptance or exploration of
diverse sexual orientations,
sometimes in violation of state
education laws. - PROMOTES SEXUAL PLEASURE
Teaches children they are
entitled to or have a “right” to
sexual pleasure or encourages
children to seek out sexual
pleasure. - PROMOTES SOLO AND/OR
MUTUAL MASTURBATION
While masturbation can be part
of normal child development,
encourages masturbation at
young ages, which may make
children more vulnerable to
pornography use, sexual
addictions or sexual
exploitation. - PROMOTES CONDOM USE IN
INAPPROPRIATE WAYS
May inappropriately eroticize
condom use (e.g., emphasizing
sexual pleasure or “fun” with
condoms) or use sexually explicit
methods (i.e., penis and vagina
models, seductive role plays,
etc.) to promote condom use to children. - PROMOTES PREMATURE
SEXUAL AUTONOMY
Teaches children they can
choose to have sex when they
feel they are ready or when they
find a trusted partner. - FAILS TO ESTABLISH
ABSTINENCE AS THE EXPECTED
STANDARD
Fails to establish abstinence (or
a return to abstinence) as the
expected standard for all school
age children. - PROMOTES TRANSGENDER
IDEOLOGY
Promotes affirmation of and/or
exploration of diverse gender
identities. - PROMOTES ABORTION/
CONTRACEPTION TO CHILDREN
May present abortion as a safe
or positive option while omitting
data on the many potential
negative physical and mental
health consequences. - PROMOTES PEER-TO-PEER
SEX ED OR SEXUAL RIGHTS
ADVOCACY
Note: While learning to advocate for dignified and respectful treatment,
awareness, and acceptance of others can be a very good thing, in many CSE
programs, this kind of standard is usually aimed at recruiting students to be
LGBT allies, sexual rights advocates, and promoters of sexual diversity.
May train children to teach other children about sex or
sexual pleasure, through peer-to-peer initiatives. - UNDERMINES TRADITIONAL
VALUES AND BELIEFS
May encourage children to
question their parents’ beliefs or
their cultural or religious values
regarding sex, sexual orientation
or gender identity. - UNDERMINES PARENTS OR
PARENTAL RIGHTS
May instruct children they have
rights to confidentiality and
privacy from their parents. May
teach children about accessing
sexual commodities or services,
including abortion, without
parental consent. - REFERS CHILDREN TO
HARMFUL RESOURCES
Refers children to harmful
websites, materials or outside
entities.