Outline of the state of Iowa
Iowa
Covers abstinence

Sexual Health Education Abstinence—ES

Sexual Health Education Abstinence—ES

State law covers abstinence.

Iowa Code 279.50 Human Growth and Development Instruction.

  1. For purposes of this section and sections 256.9 and 256.11, unless the context otherwise requires:
    • a. “Age-appropriate” means topics, messages, and teaching methods suitable to particular ages or age groups of children and adolescents, based on developing cognitive, emotional, and behavioral capacity typical for the age or age group.
    • b. “HIV” means HIV as defined in section 141A.1.
    • c. “HPV” means human papilloma virus as defined by the centers for disease control and prevention of the United States department of health and human services.
    • d. “Research-based” means all of the following:
    • (1) Complete information that is verified or supported by the weight of research conducted in compliance with accepted scientific methods; recognized as medically accurate and objective by leading professional organizations and agencies with relevant expertise in the field, such as the American college of obstetricians and gynecologists, the American public health association, the American academy of pediatrics, and the national association of school nurses; and published in peer-reviewed journals where appropriate.
    • (2) Information that is free of racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, and gender biases.
  2. To the extent not inconsistent with this section and section 256.11, an accredited nonpublic school may also choose curriculum in accordance with doctrinal teachings for the human sexuality component of the human growth and development requirements of this section and section 256.11.
  3. Nothing in this section or section 256.11 shall be construed to prohibit a school or school district from developing and making available abstinence-based or abstinence-only materials pursuant to the requirements of section 256.9, subsection 46, and from offering an abstinence-based or abstinence-only curriculum in meeting the human sexuality component of the human growth and development requirements of this section and section 256.11.
Policy Type
Statute
Source
Iowa Code