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COLORADO Colorado Sexuality Education Law and Policy Colorado schools are not required to teach sexuality or sexually transmitted disease (STD) education. However, Colorado law states that districts can decide whether to teach sexuality education and may address the subject in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The Colorado Department of Education is charged with providing guidelines as to the length of courses, the subjects included, and the manner in which these subjects are addressed. The department also provides guidelines on teacher training in sexuality education that includes information about high-risk behaviors. Under Colorado law, whenever sexuality education and/or human reproduction is taught, teachers must emphasize abstinence. Parents or guardians must be notified if a sexuality education course is taught and given an opportunity to review the curriculum. Parents or guardians may remove their children from sexuality education or STD/HIV education classes by sending written notice to the school. This is referred to as an “opt-out” policy. However, if a school receives state funding to teach sexuality education, then parents and guardians must receive written notification about the topics and materials to be presented and must give permission before a student can participate in “any program discussing or teaching sexuality and human reproduction.” This is referred to as an “opt-in” policy. See Colorado Statutes 22-25-104, 22-25-110 and 25-4-1405. Parents for Truth Member Organizations in Colorado WAIT Training
Friends First
Pueblo Youth Project Other Organizations Providing Abstinence Education in Colorado Alternatives Pregnancy Center Durango Life Foundation FACT Foundation Life Choices Pregnancy Center Weld County Dept of Health |