FAQ's

All of the lessons/materials selected for the GBSD use were specifically sought-out to meet the grade-specific performance indicators tied to the 2023 Oregon Health Education Standards. In Oregon, sex education in schools is designed to be age-appropriate, medically accurate, and comprehensive, encompassing topics like safe boundaries, consent, and healthy relationships. It's integrated into the health education curriculum, ensuring it aligns with the developmental and cognitive development of students at each grade level. The Gresham-Barlow School District promotes abstinence for our students and mutually monogamous relationships with an uninfected partner for adults as the most effective way to prevent pregnancy and the transmission of sexually transmitted infections.

GBSD sends out annual notifications letters of Growth & Development/Sexual Health and Sexual Abuse and Violence instruction. There is also information on our district website that includes access to standards, curriculum and Opt-Out information.

Please reach out to your student’s teacher or building if you have questions

The District respects all views. Our focus is on teaching medically accurate health, being inclusive of all of our students, and supporting an emotionally healthy and safe learning environment. For families whose beliefs conflict with standards or curriculum, please contact your child’s school to preview the curriculum and learn more about the Opt-Out process.

Research suggests that teaching about sexuality from a young age results in healthier outcomes and does not lead a child to become sexually active. Reducing the shame and stigma of talking about sexuality makes it easier for young people to ask questions of trusted adults when needed. Students receiving comprehensive sexuality education are more likely to be able to effectively communicate about sexuality and sexual health, delay sex until they are ready (it has been shown that Comprehensive Sexual Education helps young people delay sex or have it less often), understand healthy and unhealthy relationships, understand, value, and feel autonomy over their bodies, respect others’ right to bodily autonomy, show dignity and respect for all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, and even promote academic success, for example. ODE’s “Sexuality Education: Frequently Asked Questions” provides additional information and references on this topic.

Gender identity is defined by the state of Oregon as  a person's internal sense of being male, female, or nonbinary, regardless of whether the individual's appearance, expression or behavior differs from that traditionally associated with the individual's sex assigned at birth.  Our lessons use inclusive materials, language, and strategies that recognize different gender identities and gender expression.

The lessons taught include how to prevent pregnancy and the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Prevention discussions will often include the variety of ways consenting adults have sex as a means of discussing prevention.

Health teachers do not hand out condoms.  A student may go to the school’s health room or the school-based health center to request a condom.

Our health teachers do include demonstrations on how to properly use a condom as part of our comprehensive sexual health education starting in 7th grade. Our health teachers are trained to present this information sensitively and within the broader context of sexual health and responsibility.

● Comprehensive sexuality education is a curriculum-based process of teaching and learning about the  emotional, physical, and social aspects of human sexuality and healthy relationships.  

● Sexuality Education aims to equip children and young people with knowledge and skills that will empower  them to: 

o Realize their health, well-being, and dignity;  

o Develop respectful social and sexual relationships;  

o Consider how their choices affect their well-being and that of others;  

o Understand and ensure the protection of their rights throughout their lives. 

● Comprehensive means complete, medically accurate, and age-appropriate.  

● It ensures that sexuality education teaches that many adults will have sexual relationships in their lives, and it  takes learning throughout life from trusted adults to promote that these relationships are healthy, safe, and  happy. 

● These key components of comprehensive sexuality education support young people to choose abstinence as  the safest way to prevent STIs and unintended pregnancy. They also provide the skills and knowledge  necessary to make healthy and safe decisions. Comprehensive sexuality education includes the most critical  information to prevent sexual violence and promote health. 

● Sexual health is a broad area and is about so much more than we usually consider sexuality.  

● Oregon’s Health Education sexuality education standards address sexuality as a lifelong process linked to basic  human needs of having friendships and relationships, displaying and receiving affection, feeling valued and  loved, and sharing thoughts and feelings.  

● The standards cover socio-emotional learning concepts, including: 

o body image, 

o media literacy, 

o decision-making, 

o gender roles, 

o healthy relationships, 

o communication.  

● The standards cover sexual and reproductive health issues, including, but not limited to:  o sexual and reproductive anatomy and physiology 

o puberty and menstruation 

o reproduction,  

o modern contraception,  

o sexually transmitted infections. 

● Although some of these topics may be challenging to teach, they are important to support students' safety,  health, and well-being.

● Oregon Laws and education standards require that all content is age-appropriate. Age-appropriate means that  curricula are responsive to the changing needs and capabilities of children and young people as they grow.  

● The ‘mechanics’ or ‘technique’ of reproduction is never emphasized—the focus of sexuality education is on  healthy sexual behaviors and the importance of healthy and equal relationships. 

● Based on the age and development of learners, sexuality education addresses relevant topics when it is most  timely for their health and well-being.  

● Oregon standards are grade specific and reflect the most current research and the National Health Education  Standards.

● ‘Sexuality’ can be understood as a core dimension of being human, which includes:  o understanding the human body,  

o emotional connection and love,  

o gender,  

o intimacy,  

o reproduction.  

● Sexuality education teaches that sexuality is a normal part of being human so that children are not ashamed or  embarrassed about asking trusted adults’ questions or seeking help when needed.  

● It works! Many research studies have shown that when sexuality education is taught early and consistently, it  contributes to young people waiting longer to have sex, having sex less often, having fewer partners, taking  fewer risks, and using condoms and contraception more often.  

● Abstinence-only education does not work. Studies have also shown that abstinence-only education is  ineffective for all the above outcomes. 

● Teaching these topics supports inclusion and respect, prevents violence, and encourages the learning and  overall health and well-being of all students—especially those who may identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual,  queer, non-gender binary, or transgender (LGBTQ)— by affirming that all students are deserving of dignity,  respect, and inclusion.  

● Research has shown that students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, non-gender binary, or  transgender, (LGBTQ) experience higher rates of bullying, sexual assault, and other traumas. These student  populations also experience higher rates of depression, pregnancy, suicidal ideation, and anxiety. This leads  many young people to drop out or be chronically absent.  

● Research has shown that individuals who bully based on others’ gender identities and/or sexual orientation are  at higher risk for also perpetrating sexual violence. Education around gender identity and sexual orientation  promotes acceptance and establishes norms that bullying and hate are never acceptable. 

● Teaching and modeling inclusivity, appreciation of diversity, and respect inside and outside the classroom  make schools and all students safer. 

● Many children start expressing their gender identity in early childhood, and it is the responsibility of public  education to provide safe places for all students, regardless of their gender expression or identity, so they can  learn and grow.  

● ODE’s Supporting Gender Expansive Students: Guidance for Schools and Oregon’s Equality Act reaffirm this  commitment to serving all students. 

● All students, no matter their sexual orientation, should be treated with dignity and respect and supported in  pursuing learning, health, and academic success.

● Sexuality Education standards are included in the mandatory Health Education Standards. Health Education is  a core subject in Oregon, and every public school in Oregon requires its instruction. 

● It is important for the health and safety of children to be in school for all health education components,  including socio-emotional learning, healthy relationships, and sexuality education. It is encouraged that if a  parent finds a portion of the content inappropriate, they opt out only of that portion and not the entire  curriculum. 

● According to Oregon Law, parents can opt their children out of any or all sexuality education components.  However, parents cannot opt their children out of the entire health course or program without written  documentation of a religious or disability-related reason. In those cases, parents would also have to  demonstrate to the school district how to comply with the Health Education Standards with alternative  instruction.

● Sexuality education focuses on teaching the foundations of socio-emotional well-being, not just teaching about  bodies and preventing STIs. 

● Social and emotional learning is the process of learning the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to  understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish  and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. 

● Sexuality education teaches skills related to building safe and positive relationships, understanding and  accepting differences, challenging bias, resolving conflict, and making healthy decisions.  

● Oregon’s Health Standards include instruction requirements that cover respect, healthy communication, active  listening, identifying personal values, self-assertion, and goal setting. 

● Studies have shown that teaching sexuality education contributes to preventing sexual violence and gender based discrimination. 

● Sexuality education supports young people in recognizing what makes relationships healthy and unhealthy, and  how to get help from trusted adults when they need it.  

● Students learn the names of their body parts and that they have a right to decide who can and can’t touch their  bodies. This knowledge and set of skills empower students to communicate what makes them uncomfortable,  talk about their experiences and concerns, and ask trusted adults questions without shame or embarrassment.  

● Sexuality education also supports young people to build stronger and healthier relationships at all ages of  development. This is done through socio-emotional skill building, such as healthy communication, respect,  self-assertion, and challenging bias.

● In Oregon, over 1 in 8 students experience teen dating violence before age 18. 1 in 2 women in Oregon  experiences sexual assault in their lifetimes. Sexual violence is a huge issue in Oregon that public education has  a responsibility to face. 

● The rates are higher among girls and LGBTQ students. 

● Despite misconceptions, boys also experience teen dating violence far too frequently: more than 1 out of 10  boys experience sexual violence before the age 18. 

● Sexually transmitted infections are Oregon's most frequently reported infections and account for almost two thirds of all reportable infections. 

● Sexually transmitted infections have been increasing dramatically in the past few years in Oregon.

● Adolescents and young adults between 15-24 years of age have the highest infection rates. 

● Most sexually transmitted infections, if not identified and managed appropriately, can cause serious  complications. Women and newborns bear an inordinate share of complications.

● Condom education is an effective way to help youth use condoms correctly and consistently when they begin  to have sex. It has been shown to be a best practice in health promotion. 

● Oregon Sexuality Education standards require students to know how to use a condom. In 6th grade, students  must “identify” the steps to use a condom. In 7th, they should be able to “describe” the steps. In 8th they must  “demonstrate the steps”, and in 12th grade, students should be able to “demonstrate the steps to use a condom  and/or other barrier methods correctly”. 

● The average Oregonian starts having sex around age 17—but at least 8% start having sex in 8th grade. This  means that young people need the knowledge and skills to stay safe in middle school. 

● Condom use among adolescents is inconsistent. Adolescents are more likely to experience condom failures,  and these failures discourage condom use.  

● Evidence shows that educating youth about condoms does not make them more likely to start having sex.  Condom education is associated with a lower likelihood of sexual involvement.

● To get public funding, schools must comply with the Oregon Department of Education’s Division 22 Standards.  This includes teaching the Health Standards and performance indicators. 

● If a school does not comply with the law, a parent or concerned community member could file a complaint  with the school, school district, or ODE. The complaint process for each School District is available on their  website and the ODE website.