- Wisconsin state law does not mandate the teaching of sexuality education, though STD education is required.
- Sex ed curricula are not required to be comprehensive, though they are required to be medically accurate.
- All “human growth and development” instruction must stress abstinence.
- Sex ed curricula are not required to include instruction on sexual orientation, gender identity, or consent, though Human Growth and Development: A Resource Guide to Assist School Districts in Policy and Program Development and Implementation includes instruction on all of these topics.
- Parents or guardians may remove their children from “human growth and development” instruction with a written request to the teacher or principal. This is referred to as an “opt-out” policy.
Bills to Watch
- AB 15 was introduced in 2023. It would require public libraries and public schools to take steps to prevent minors from accessing “harmful material” on computers, and for schools to create a policy for designating instructional material as “offensive.”
- SB 10 was introduced in 2023. It would require schools to provide parents with an outline of instructional materials that contain “offensive material.” It would also outline procedures for parents to opt their child out of this instruction.
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 Wisconsin profile.