- West Virginia state law mandates the teaching of sexuality education, though it is not required to be either comprehensive or medically accurate.
- All sex ed curricula must include instruction on abstinence.
- Sex ed curricula are not required to include instruction on sexual orientation, gender identity, or consent.
- Parents or guardians may remove their children from any part of this instruction by written notification to the principal. This is referred to as an “opt-out” policy.
- Each county board must integrate HIV prevention education into health courses and may also include it in science, social studies, and developmental guidance courses in order to “assure total understanding of the disease and its consequences.” Educators conducting classroom instruction about HIV/AIDS must be qualified professionals who participate in staff development to ensure they teach current AIDS information.
- The Board of Education’s West Virginia College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Wellness Education curriculum framework includes sexual health.
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 West Virginia profile.