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ARIZONA


Arizona Sexuality Education Law and Policy


Arizona does not have a law that requires schools to teach sexuality education or sexually transmitted disease (STD)/HIV education. However, Arizona law does state that if a school chooses to teach these topics, instruction must be age-appropriate and abstinence must be stressed. Further, if a school chooses to teach HIV education, such instruction must be medically accurate, but cannot promote a “homosexual lifestyle,” portray “homosexuality as a positive alternative life-style,” or “suggest that some methods of sex are safe methods of homosexual sex.” It must “promote honor and respect for monogamous heterosexual marriage.”


Arizona Administrative Code R7-2-303 states that schools may “provide a specific elective lesson or lessons concerning sex education as a supplement to the health course of study.” In order for a student to take the class, the school must have the “written request of the student's parents or guardian.” In addition, the school must:


  • Provide an alternative elective lesson;
  • Only spend a limited number of time on sex education;
  • Teach the class in gender-divided classrooms;
  • Not grade the classes, require no homework, and not retain any evaluation of the class;
  • Not include any “tests, psychological inventories, surveys, or examinations containing any questions about the student's or his parents' personal beliefs or practices in sex, family life, morality, values or religion;” and
  • Have the lessons approval of the local governing board.

The local governing board:


  • Must be representative of the district;
  • Must review all instructional materials;
  • Hold at least two public hearings on the matter; and
  • Allow all materials for this class to be viewed by the public.

Arizona's Comprehensive Health Education Standards do not include sexuality education or STD/HIV education.


Parents may remove their children from HIV/AIDS education classes. This is referred to as an “opt-out” policy. However, Arizona requires written consent for any sexuality education class. This is referred to as an “opt-in” policy.


See Arizona Revised Statutes Sections 15-711, 15-716, and R7-2-303.