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ALABAMA


Alabama Sexuality Education Law and Policy


Alabama Code sets minimum requirements for what must be taught in sexuality education classes. Among other things, classes must teach that:


  • Abstinence from sexual intercourse is the only completely effective protection against unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) when transmitted sexually; and
  • Abstinence from sexual intercourse outside of lawful marriage is the expected social standard for unmarried school-age persons.

The Code also states that:


  • Course materials and instruction that relate to sexual education or sexually transmitted diseases should be age-appropriate;
  • Statistics used must be based on the latest medical information that indicate the degree of reliability and unreliability of various forms of contraception, while also emphasizing the increase in protection against pregnancy and protection against sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV and AIDS infection, which is afforded by the use of various contraceptive measures; and
  • Classes must emphasize, in a factual manner and from a public health perspective, that homosexuality is not a lifestyle acceptable to the general public and that homosexual conduct is a criminal offense under the laws of the state.2

In Alabama, curriculum content is developed locally; however, the Alabama Course of Study: Health Education provides foundation for the minimum content requirements for topics such as HIV, sexually transmitted diseases (STD), and pregnancy prevention. In addition, in July 1987, the Alabama State Board of Education passed the Resolution to Provide Information to Students to Prevent the Spread of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Disease in the Public Schools of Alabama . This resolution specifies that students in grades 5–12 must receive instruction about AIDS through a health education program.


Parents or guardians may remove their children from sexuality education and/or STD/HIV education classes. This is referred to as an “opt-out” policy.


See Alabama State Code Section 16-40A-2, the Alabama Course of Study: Health Education , and the Resolution to Provide Information to Students to Prevent the Spread of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Disease in the Public Schools of Alabama .