CDC's Critical Topics to Include in High School Sex Education

CDC’s Critical Topics to Include

in High School Sex Education:

Puberty: The Wonder Years

Lays a Strong Foundation

The federal Centers for Disease Control has identified 16 critical sexual education topics

which should be included in sex

education classes offered to high school students in the U.S. Fewer than half of high schools and only a fifth of middle

schools teach all 16. Puberty: The Wonder Years (PWY)

lays the foundation for addressing these topics in a

developmentally appropriate manner beginning in grades 4, 5, and 6.

CDC’s 16 Critical Sex Education Topics

PWY

Grade 4

PWY

Grade 5

PWY

Grade 6

1. Benefits of being sexually abstinent.

 4-3

 5-5

 6-6

2. How to access valid and reliable health information, products and services

related to HIV, other sexually transmitted diseases, and pregnancy.

 4-1

 5-1

 5-5

 5-6

 6-1

 6-D (opt)

3. Influences of family, peers, media, technology and other factors on sexual

risk behavior.

 -

 5-7

 6-6

4. Communication and negotiation skills related to eliminating or reducing risk

for HIV, other STDs, and pregnancy.

 -

 5-5

 6-7

5. Goal-setting and decision-making skills related to eliminating or reducing

risks.

 -

 5-5

 -

6. Influencing and supporting others to avoid or reduce sexual risk behaviors.

 -

 6-6

 6-7

7. Importance of using condoms consistently and correctly.

 -

 6-D (opt)

8. Importance of using a condom at the same time as another form of

contraception to prevent both STDs and pregnancy.

 -

 6-D (opt)

9. How to create and sustain healthy and respectful relationships.

 4-2

 5-6

 6-4

 6-5

10. Importance of limiting the number of sexual partners.

 -

11. Preventive care that is necessary to maintain reproductive and sexual

health.

 4-6

 5-5

 -

12. How HIV and other STDs are transmitted.

 MMH

 -

13. Health consequences of HIV, other STDs, and pregnancy.

 4-3

 -

14. Effectiveness of condoms.

 -

15. How to obtain condoms.

 -

16. How to correctly use a condom.

 -

School Health Profiles, https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/profiles/results.htm

Puberty: The Wonder Years, www.PubertyCurriculm.com

Michigan Model for Health Grade 4 HIV lesson addresses this topic. http://www.mmhclearinghouse.org/

Michigan Model for Health Grade 5 HIV lesson addresses this topic. http://www.mmhclearinghouse.org/