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ALASKA


Alaska Sexuality Education Law and Policy


Alaska does not have a law that governs sexuality education; therefore, schools are not required to teach sexuality or sexually transmitted disease (STD) education. However, “the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development's health education team is committed to providing teachers and school staff within the state of Alaska with current and scientifically sound research in health education and violence and disease prevention.” The Department endorses “Programs that Work,”2 a list compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and encourages schools to incorporate one or more of the recommended curricula into a “planned, sequential, comprehensive school health education program.”3


In addition, the Alaska Content Standards, Skills for a Healthy Life, states that students should, among other things:


  • Understand the physical and behavioral characteristics of human sexual development and maturity;
  • Develop an awareness of how personal life roles are affected by and contribute to the well-being of families, communities, and cultures;
  • Understand how respect for the rights of self and others contributes to relationships; and
  • Take responsible actions to create safe and healthy environments.

Alaska does not require parental permission for students to participate in sexuality or HIV/AIDS education nor does it say whether parents or guardians can remove their children from such classes.