- Oklahoma state law does not mandate the teaching of sexuality education, nor does it need to be comprehensive when it is offered. Schools are required, however, to provide instruction on HIV/AIDS prevention.
- The primary purpose of all sex ed curricula must be to inform students about abstinence.
- All sex ed curricula must include instruction on consent.
- Sex ed curricula are not required to include instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity, though all instruction must highlight that “engaging in homosexual activity, promiscuous sexual activity, intravenous drug use, or contact with contaminated blood products is now known to be primarily responsible for contact with the AIDS virus.”
- If a school district chooses to teach sex education, all curricula and materials must be approved for medical accuracy by the state and by the district superintendent. All materials must also be available to parents for review.
- Parents or guardians can submit written notification if they do not want their children to participate in sexuality and HIV/AIDS courses. This is referred to as an “opt-out” policy.
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 Oklahoma profile.