The law requires instruction and materials to meet a number of guidelines. Among them, they must be age-appropriate; medically accurate and objective; and appropriate for use with pupils of all races, genders, sexual orientations, and ethnic and cultural backgrounds. They also must affirmatively recognize different sexual orientations and be inclusive of same-sex relationships in discussions; teach about gender, gender expression, gender identity, and the harm of negative gender stereotypes; and teach the value of committed relationships such as marriage.
The full list of guidelines is listed in
Education Code 51933. Again, every school district has the autonomy to choose its own curriculum as long as it meets the state guidelines. If families have questions or concerns about the specific lessons used in their child’s class, they should contact the school or district.
Please visit the CDE website for more information about the
California Healthy Youth Act.