By james art SCOTTSDALE, AZ (AZ Family) — After a four-year hiatus, the Scottsdale Unified School Board unanimously approved new optional sex education courses.
Earlier this year, the school board formed a committee to study and discuss the courses, which they then presented to the public at several discussion meetings. This process followed recently passed legislation in 2021 signed by former Governor Doug Ducey.
The legislation prevents school districts from offering sex education classes to students under 5th grade. It also requires school boards to engage the community before courses are voted on.
The legislation calls for parents to opt their students into sex education classes, which is what SUSD offers.
Madeleine Adelman is an ASU professor who founded GLSEN Arizona, a nonprofit organization that supports all students regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
While Adelman applauds SUSD for bringing back sex education, she takes issue with the state law requiring parents to opt in to the courses.
“When all students don’t get access to the same education, the question becomes, ‘Why do some classmates learn it and others don’t?'” Adelman said. “It would level the playing field much more, moving from opt-in to opt-out, meaning the presumption is that all children will receive the same education.”
By state law, all sex education courses in each district must be available online.
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