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RHODE ISLAND


Rhode Island Sexuality Education Law and Policy


Rhode Island schools are required to provide “accurate information and instruction” on sexuality, HIV, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Schools must also teach “ the responsibilities of family membership and adulthood, including issues related to reproduction, abstinence, dating, marriage, and parenthood as well as information about sexually transmitted diseases, sexuality and lifestyles.” These classes must stress abstinence.


In addition, the state department of elementary and secondary education must “establish comprehensive AIDS instruction, which shall provide students with accurate information and instruction on AIDS transmission and prevention, and which course shall also address abstinence from sexual activity as the preferred means of prevention, as a basic education program requirement.”


The Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education must establish a state health education curriculum for grades K through 12. This curriculum, the Rules and Regulations for School Health, is based on the Comprehensive Health Instructional and the Health Education Framework and schools are mandated to use it.


Parents must be notified of sexuality education classes and may view the curriculum by submitting a written request. Students may be removed from instruction by written notification from the parent to the principal. This is referred to as an “opt-out” policy.


See Rhode Island Statute 16-22-1, 16-22-17 and 16-22-18 as well as the Rules and Regulations for School Health, Comprehensive Health Instructional and the Health Education Framework.