- Virginia state law does not mandate the teaching of sex education.
- All sex ed curricula must emphasize abstinence.
- Sex ed curricula are not required to include instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity.
- If Family Life Education is provided, certain topics—such as dating violence, violence prevention, consent, and personal boundaries—must be taught.
- Parents or guardians may remove their students from any class. This is referred to as an “opt-out” policy.
- Curriculum standards are included in both the Family Life Education Board of Education Guidelines and Standards of Learning for Virginia Public Schools and the Health Education Standards of Learning for Virginia Public Schools.
Some Sex Ed Advocates Within the State
- The Arc of Virginia
- Virginia League for Planned Parenthood
- the Virginia Coalition for Sex Ed Reform (VACSER)
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 Virginia profile.