Scan
Step 1: Learn the Policy Landscape
Results
- Clear understanding of the sex education components that are allowed, mandated, or restricted.
Ensure you're familiar with existing requirements and regulations that govern sex education. School-based sex education must comply with different types of policy, including: state legislative policy, state education department policy, and local school board policy. Requirements may include a mandate that school districts form a school health advisory committee (SHAC) to participate in the review, selection, and adoption of sex education curricula or they may define what topics are mandated to cover (or avoid).
Tips
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This activity can be a low intensity effort.
There is not a need to do extensive assessment or scanning; all that is needed is a clear understanding of the "do's" and "don'ts" of existing state and education policies as well as the political environment with respect to CSE.
Identify the key influential sex education advocates and adversaries. Equally important to understanding the policy environment is identifying key political forces that influence sex education. Knowing the extent to which elected/appointed influential officials, such as the chief state school officer or local school board members, can support (or block) sex education progress will help to secure sex education commitment and avoid potential pitfalls.