- Minnesota state law mandates the teaching of sexuality education, though it is not required to be comprehensive.
- All sex ed curricula must include instruction that helps students abstain from sexual activity until marriage.
- Sex ed curricula are not required to include instruction on sexual orientation, gender identity, or consent.
- The sex ed curriculum must be available for parental review. Parents or guardians may remove their children from instruction if they object to the content. This is referred to as an “opt-out” policy.
- Minnesota’s National Health Education Standards and Minnesota Benchmarks provide guidance for local school district curriculum development. These standards briefly mention guidelines for lessons on HIV transmission and unintended pregnancy.
Bills to Watch
- HF 2114 and SF 1981 were introduced in 2023. The resulting bill would require all grades (K-12) to receive instruction at least one hour per year on personal body safety in accordance with Erin’s law.
- HF 1590, HF 353, SF 76, SF 1452 were introduced in 2023. They would establish a Parental Bill of Rights pertaining to education, healthcare, and other concepts, and prohibit employees and government from infringing on these rights by withholding information about a child.
- SF 662 and HF 174 were introduced in 2023. They would require the commissioner of education to develop a model program for sexual health education.
Some Sex Ed Advocates Within the State
For more detailed information on how various districts in the state have been implementing these standards — and for recent legislation — you can read SIECUS’s Minnesota profile.