What good is sex education?
Not much, at least as it's taught in many schools
Forty-two states require some form of sex education, but only 19 mandate medical accuracy
Abstinence-focused instruction dominates, despite evidence of limited effectiveness
Many states allow parents to opt children out, leaving gaps in access to key health information
Sex has always been a mystery — at least for a little while — to most kids. And now a new study from Boston University School of Public Health finds that the sex education taught in most schools doesn’t do much to change that.
Most U.S. students are unlikely to receive comprehensive, medically accurate sex education, despite clear evidence of its benefits for adolescent health, the study found.
The research, published in the American Journal of Public Health, analyzed statutes, regulations, and court decisions in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. It revealed a patchwork of state mandates that often prioritize outdated or politically influenced instruction over evidence-based guidance.
Abstinence doesn’t quite do the trick
The study found that while 42 states require public school students to take at least one sex education course between kindergarten and high school, only 19 mandate medical accuracy. Of those, five states apply the accuracy requirement only to certain topics.
Instruction on abstinence remains common: 34 states mandate it, even though public health research has shown abstinence-only approaches to be ineffective and, in some cases, harmful. Other required topics include HIV (34 states), sexually transmitted infections (32 states), and child abuse prevention (31 states). But far fewer states mandate coverage of contraception (20), sexual orientation (12), or consent (9).
Parents aren’t exactly helpful
Parental involvement policies also restrict access. Thirty-four states allow parents to opt their children out of sex education entirely, while five states require parents to opt in for their children to receive it. Researchers say these policies likely reflect political compromises that reduce the reach of sex education programs.
Regional and political divides
The mandates vary significantly by region. All Northeast states require some form of sex education, compared to 88 percent of Southern states, 83 percent of Midwestern states, and 62 percent of Western states.
“While many students in the U.S. are required to get some form of sexual education, substantially fewer are likely to be getting the comprehensive education that public health and medical associations recommend,” said lead author Dr. Kimberly Nelson, associate professor of community health sciences at BUSPH.
The study’s authors say the findings underscore the urgent need for stronger, evidence-based sex education laws that equip young people with the knowledge they need to make informed, healthy decisions.