Outline of the state of North Carolina
State
North Carolina
Requires medically-accurate comprehensive sex education

Category
Sexual Health Education General—MS

Category
Sexual Health Education General—MS

State law requires teaching comprehensive sex education, medically-accurate sex education, or otherwise addresses all elements of comprehensive sex education as defined by the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States.

North Carolina Essential Standard - Health Education

Understand healthy and effective interpersonal communication and relationships.

Remember abstinence from sexual activity outside of marriage as a positive choice for young people.

Apply strategies that develop and maintain reproductive and sexual health.

Policy Type
Standard

North Carolina General Statutes 115C-81.25 Health Education

(c)The State Board of Education, through the Department of Public Instruction, shall, on a regular basis, review materials related to these objectives and distribute these reviews to local school administrative units for their information. This program includes age-appropriate instruction in the following subject areas, regardless of whether this instruction is described as, or incorporated into a description of, "family life education," "family health education," "health education," "family living," "health," "healthful living curriculum," or "self-esteem":

  • (11)Preventing sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, and other communicable diseases. As used in this section, "HIV/AIDS" means Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
  • (12)Reproductive health and safety education
Policy Type
Statute

North Carolina General Statutes 115C-81.30 Reproductive health and safety education provided by local school administrative units.

115C-81.30 Reproductive health and safety education provided by local school

(a )Each local school administrative unit shall provide a reproductive health and safety education program commencing in the seventh grade. Materials used in this instruction shall be age-appropriate for use with students. Law enforcement agencies, criminal justice agencies, and nongovernmental organizations with experience in sex-trafficking prevention and awareness may provide materials and information. Information conveyed during the instruction shall be objective and based upon scientific research that is peer reviewed and accepted by professionals and credentialed experts in any of the following fields: sexual health education, adolescent psychology, behavioral counseling, medicine, human anatomy, biology, ethics, or health education. Reproductive health and safety instruction provided by the local school administrative units shall do the following:

  • (1)Teach that abstinence from sexual activity outside of marriage is the expected standard for all school-age children.

  • (2)Present techniques and strategies to deal with peer pressure and offering positive reinforcement.

  • (3)Present reasons, skills, and strategies for remaining or becoming abstinent from sexual activity.

  • (4)Teach that abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain means of avoiding out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases when transmitted through sexual contact, including HIV/AIDS, and other associated health and emotional problems. As used in this section, "HIV/AIDS" means Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

  • (5)Teach that a mutually faithful monogamous heterosexual relationship in the context of marriage is the best lifelong means of avoiding sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS.

  • (6)Teach the positive benefits of abstinence until marriage and the risks of premarital sexual activity.

  • (7)Provide opportunities that allow for interaction between the parent or legal guardian and the student.

  • (8)Provide factually accurate biological or pathological information that is related to the human reproductive system.

  • (9)Teach about the preventable risks for preterm birth in subsequent pregnancies, including induced abortion, smoking, alcohol consumption, the use of illegal drugs, and inadequate prenatal care.

  • (10)Teach about sexually transmitted diseases. Instruction shall include how sexually transmitted diseases are and are not transmitted, the effectiveness and safety of all federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved methods of reducing the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, and information on local resources for testing and medical care for sexually transmitted diseases. Instruction shall include the rates of infection among pre-teen and teens of each known sexually transmitted disease and the effects of contracting each sexually transmitted disease. In particular, the instruction shall include information about the effects of contracting the Human Papilloma Virus, including sterility and cervical cancer.

  • (11)Teach about the effectiveness and safety of all FDA-approved contraceptive methods in preventing pregnancy.

  • (12)Teach awareness of sexual assault, sexual abuse, and risk reduction. The instruction and materials shall:

  • a.Focus on healthy relationships.

  • b.Teach students what constitutes sexual assault and sexual abuse, the causes of those behaviors, and risk reduction.

  • c.Inform students about resources and reporting procedures if they experience sexual assault or sexual abuse.

  • d.Examine common misconceptions and stereotypes about sexual assault and sexual abuse.

  • (13)Teach about sex trafficking prevention and awareness. Each local school administrative unit shall:

  • a.Collaborate with a diverse group of outside consultants where practical, including law enforcement with expertise in sex-trafficking prevention education, to address the threats of sex trafficking.

  • b.Collaborate with a diverse group of outside consultants, including law

Policy Type
Statute