I was recently retaking my Boy Scouts of America Youth Protection Training, required of all adult leaders and volunteers. During the training, a sexual abuse survivor shared her story about being a victim as a Kindergartener. She shared that she remembers feeling that what was happening was wrong, but she had never been given the words to express herself to a safe adult. So the abuse continued. We do a great job of teaching our kids about stranger danger. But when we fail to teach children about good touch, bad touch, we give child sex abusers more power. Not every kid is going to learn about that at home. Every child deserves to be given the words to help them stop sexual abuse. The conversation we all should be having is not whether we support sex education in the classroom, but what do children need to know to help keep them safe from abuse. I will always support keeping parents informed and giving them options to opt out.

Yes, I believe that we should start teaching students about their bodies, what safe touch is, and what healthy relationships are from an early age. I believe that giving students this basic information empowers them to identify abuse. As students get older, there should be education on their changing bodies and information on safe sex and where to go when they have questions or need help. While I do not think it is best for parents to opt out of sexual education, I would be okay with this option if my district community pushed for it and if it meant that a majority of students would still receive sexual education.

I support an option for parents to choose to have Human Growth and Development / Sex Education available for their own student. Education should remain as an opt-in curriculum so that only parents who are interested in the program will sign their students up for it. I also believe information that will be taught to the students should be available to the parents so that they can review it prior to making a decision.

Parents should absolutely have the final say in their children’s sexual education. “Sexual education” can refer to a lot of different things, which is why one of my main priorities is having more transparency and communication. Families should have access to what is being considered for approval and/or taught in our district so that they can make the best choices for their children.

Biology has a place in the classroom. Children should learn the biology of the human body as it’s age appropriate. Parents should always have the option to opt out of things that they do not believe serve their children well. Children should be taught to have the highest level of respect for themselves and all of those they interact with.

I believe first and foremost, Sex Ed should be done by trusted parents or guardians in a safe trusted environment, mostly at home. I do see value in basic sex ed in schools for kids at the appropriate age as long as parents have opted in and where they can learn the risks of pregnancy, sexually transmitted disease, and other harmful effects. The content of these classes should be fully known in advance and readily available to parents. Taught by at least 2 presenters at a time and should be fact based and based on science and not contrary to what parents teach at home.

Parents should have the ultimate authority on when their children receive sexual education. There should always be an opportunity to opt out and curriculum should be available for parents to reveiw. As a candidate in a high school district, you would expect to have curriculum covering biology and reproduction.

Diversity in cultures and values does not allow for a one-size-fits-all sex education. I support health, anatomy, and hygiene instruction, based in biology. Materials should be available to parents, and consent must be required.

"Reproduction" as a system of the body and human experience - yes. "Sexual Education" as anything beyond that - no. That is not the school's role, nor in the scope of practice for teachers or staff in general. Parents should always have the right to opt their child out of anything they are not comfortable with.

Obviously, allowing individual teachers to use subjective reasoning was not what we as parents envisioned when sexual education was introduced. Parents assumed and rightly so their children would be taught biology and reproductive information etc. It must be up to the parent to decide what age sexual education should begin if appropriate. Parents should absolutely have the opportunity and the right to opt out of any sexual education programs.

I do support sexual education of children in the classroom. I believe 5th/6th grade is an appropriate year to start and that parents should have the opportunity to opt out.

I do not support the sexualization of our kids. I think Sex Ed should be parental opt-in required.
I support House Bill 2035: Parental Rights on Sex Education Instruction that was signed by the Governor in July 2021.
- No Sex Ed before 5th grade
- Parental opt-in required
- Any meetings on Sex Ed curriculum be posted at least 2 weeks prior to the meeting
- Make any proposed Sex Ed course available for review at least 60 days prior to approval

Nothing beyond the basic biological process. May be introduced in Natural Sciences in the 5th-6th grade and reinforced later on in the biology context.

The liberty of parents to direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of their children is a fundamental right guaranteed by Arizona statute and shall not be infringed by any governmental entity. Basic health education may be appropriate for children after fifth grade but sexualization is certainly not under any circumstances. That would be in the realm of parents.

Schools should not be the institution for all child rearing and social engineering of development, which they have become. However, I understand that there are parents who either don't teach or don't want to teach their children about their bodies and the biological changes of puberty and expect it to be done at school. It should only be opt in and offered before or after school or during free time or lunch so not to take away from the purpose of the school day. Parents should be able to opt out of anything in their school. Minimum age of at least 10 years old.

I personally have opted my child out and support a parent's right to do so. Middle school is a good age for schools to have sex ed, however the curriculum should be fully transparent.

I believe we should offer a basic, factual sex education course, most appropriately to middle-school students (say 6th grade). I believe this should be the only time that sexual acts/behavior should be discussed in detail in school; when other questions come up students should be directed to talk to their parents about their concerns. I believe parents should have the ability to opt their child out if so desired. The primary job of our schools is to teach reading, math, science, civics, government, etc. Too much time is being spent on these “ancillary” topics (sexual preferences, gender identity, transgender issues, LGBTQ issues, etc.) taking time away from much-needed academics.

Sex-ed should not be taught in K-5. 6-12 should be optional/Opt-in by parents.

I would support a sexual education program depending on the content. It is critical that the content is age appropriate. I do not believe any sexual education program should be taught before the 6th grade. I absolutely feel the parent should have the opportunity to opt out. I'd prefer that the parents had to opt into the program with full disclosure to the parents on the content.

I do not support what is passing for sexual education these days. A biological sex ed. lesson is appropriate around 6th grade. Parents should have the ability to easily opt out and feel confident their decision will be respected. A sexual education that includes "acceptable" alternative forms of sex to prevent pregnancy, discussions on trans and queer theory, and lessons that include the use of inappropriate "toys" and lesson materials have no place in our schools, at any age.

I was recently informed by my 12 year-old son that one of his classmate walked in on two 8th graders having sex in bathroom last school year. Since kids today, clearly have early access to pornography through social media and smartphones, I do believe sex education is necessary in schools. However, I believe sex education must focus on protection and prevention only. I am also comfortable if the topic of appropriate versus inappropriate behavior is included in sex education. I believe the appropriate time is between 6th and 7th grade but no later than 8th grade. Sex education should be opt-in rather than opt-out and parents should be given the material to be taught prior, giving them the necessary information make an informed decision.

I am absolutely against the sexualization of our children under the guise of "sex education". What is being presented as sex ed goes far beyond what is age appropriate and is intentionally sowing confusion in students as well as causing division between parent and child. I believe sex ed should be limited to the biological and health aspects of sex, not the social aspects of it. Any sex ed class should include the message that how and when to have sex is a moral decision that should be discussed with parents. Sex ed should not be introduced before age 11 or 12 and parents should have the ability to op-out, I would prefer an opt-in choice.

AZ Parents Bill of Rights clearly states parents can opt their children out of curriclum and activites they find is not sutiable for their children. We must honor and abide by this law. In the current climate sexual education should not be in our schools. From purely a biological perspective - 7th or 8th grade.

I do not support anything other than basic sex education from junior high through high school only, nothing before junior high is acceptable. Sex education that teaches abstinence and the basics such as puberty, and topics as to why/how their body changes, appropriate topics like that are agreeable. Nothing that has to do with sexualizing our children, feeding into gender dysphoria or sexual orientation issues, or any type of comprehensive sex education. It should always be age appropriate and OPT-IN only, NEVER an OPT-OUT, only OPT-IN.

Washington Elementary School District is a K-8 school district and we do not currently offer sex ed. I believe the appropriate age would be in high school with parents permission.

In high school with parents who opt in, NOT out. The default should be to out and parents must opt in.

I absolutely do not support sexual education in the classroom. The only time I think it is appropriate to have sexual education in the classroom is when a nurse or someone who is specialized in this area is the person presenting the content. This content and topic seems appropriate for students at the High School level, however, parents should have the opportunity to opt in or out. One of the main reasons I am running for school board is to bring parent's rights back into Public Education.

I believe parents should be the ones to teach sexual education to their children. Parents should have the ability to review the curriculum and opt their child in to any sexual education being taught in schools.

I do not support sex education of children in the classroom. This is a conversation that should happen in the home. If a school district does have a sex education class the parents should be allowed to opt out. Currently in Arizona, sex education is an opt in class.

Parents, not schools, should teach this to their children. Parents have a right to opt their children out of such classes in schools.

No, I don't support this and yes parents have a right to opt out of anything

In the past, sexual education was limited to human anatomy and biological reaction of conception. However, given the current cultural climate of our nation, I do not support sexual education in the classroom. The subject has gone far beyond the basic human understanding of life and twisted the narrative to focus on gender identity and sexual pleasure. Therefore, the role of sex education should rest with the parents and their religious affiliations.

Did not answer.