Advocates believe Massachusetts may finally set sex education standards
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For 12 years, sex education advocates in Massachusetts have been pushing for a comprehensive bill to become law.

But for 12 years, that proposal has floundered.

The Healthy Youth Act would standardize sex education in schools that choose to participate. Right now, sex education is “completely unregulated” in Massachusetts, said Jaclyn Friedman, chair of the Healthy Youth Act Coalition.

“In some school districts, they have policy on the books. Worcester and Boston provide, for example, great sex education that actually will be perfectly in line with the Healthy Youth Act when it passes,” Friedman told Under the Radar. “But in many communities, there is nothing on the books at all. And so, you might get no sex and relationships education. You might get really harmful propaganda that teaches shame about girls and sexuality, LGBTQ students and sexuality. You might get misinformation, or you might get good sex education. It's completely the luck of the draw.”

But now supporters think the bill could pass in coming months — especially with Gov. Maura Healey in office.

“We have a strong supporter in Healey's administration,” said Jennifer Hart, vice president of education, learning and engagement at Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts*.* “Massachusetts is a trailblazer in all of these areas and now in a post-Roe landscape, we really need to double down on making sure that our young people have all the information that they need to be able to delay sex, to decrease unintended pregnancy, to improve their own health overall.”

Hart said all the pieces of the puzzle are coming together, and that she is optimistic Massachusetts will soon implement sex ed standards.

Even if the bill stalls, change may be on the horizon. Healey has recently proposed new updates to Massachusetts’ health education framework that could bypass the state Legislature. The draft framework will be reviewed by the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education on June 27. If the draft is approved to be sent out for comment, the public will have 60 days to weigh in).

GUESTS

Jennifer Hart, vice president of education, learning and engagement at Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts

Jaclyn Friedman, chair of the Healthy Youth Act Coalition and executive director of Educate Us, a sex education advocacy organization