School-Based
Sex-related Education (SRE)
Shalonda Coleman, MSEd., CHES
Estelle Watts, MSN, NCSN
Christine Philley, M.Ed., CFCS
Mississippi Department of Education
Office of Healthy Schools
House Bill 999
Passed in the 2011 Legislation Session,
requires Mississippi schools to implement
a SRE program.
Signed by Governor Barbour, March 16,
2011
Prevalence of Selected Sexual HealthRelated Behaviors Among Students
in Mississippi
Source: CDC, Youth Risk Behavior Survey
Teenage Birth Data
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In 2006, 435,427 births occurred to mothers aged 1519, a birth rate of 41.9 per 1,000 women in this age
group.
 In 2006, Mississippi was ranked the highest with a
birth rate of 68.4 per 1000
In 2008, 435,000 births occurred to mothers aged 1519, a birth rate of 41.5 per 1,000 women in this age
group.
 In 2008, Mississippi was ranked the highest with a
birth rate of 64.2 per 1000
Available at:
http://www.cdc.gov/nchc/datanvsr57/nsvr57_07.pdf
Impact of Teen Pregnancy on
Mississippi Youth
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2007 Ages 10-19
Live Births
7,954
Repeat Births
1,802
2008 Ages 10-19
Live Births
7,310
Repeat Births
1,702
2009 Ages 10-19
Live Births
7,078
Repeat Births
1,496
Adolescent Data
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Approximately 140 babies were born to
teenage mothers between the ages 10-14 in
2009.
Approximately 2,242 babies were born to
teenage mothers between the ages 15-17 in
2009.
 Available at
http://www.msdh.state.ms.us/usphs/
Although 15-24 year olds make up just
15% of Mississippi's population, they
represent:
76% of chlamydia cases
70% of gonorrhea cases
In 2009, Mississippi ranked #6 nationally in HIV
infection case rates among the 40 states with
confidential reporting.
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26% of HIV cases
HB999-SRE highlights
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By June 30, 2012, every school district must adopt a
policy on:
 Abstinence-only education, or
 Abstinence-plus education
By June 30, 2012, school districts must submit a
selected policy, curriculum, and protocol for
implementation to the Office of Healthy Schools
Instruction to begin no later than the start of 2012-13
school year.
HB999-SRE highlights
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Boys and Girls must be separated for
instruction
Requires written notice of inclusion/exclusion
School nurses responsible for implementation
of program
No effort to teach abortion as a means to
prevent birth
HB999-SRE highlights
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“The instruction or program may include a
discussion on condoms or contraceptives, but
only if that discussion includes a factual
presentation of the risks and failure rates of
those contraceptives.”
“In no case shall the instruction or program
include any demonstration of how condoms
or other contraceptives are applied.”
Excerpt from House Bill 999 lines 71-76
Only or Plus: What’s the difference?
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Abstinence education shall remain the
state standard for any SRE taught in MS
public schools
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Any SRE includes instruction or program
provided at an appropriate age and grade
Abstinence Only—may include:
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The teaching of social, psychological and health
gains associated with abstinence;
the teaching of harmful consequences to adolescent
sexual activity;
the teaching of skills to deal with unwanted sexual
advances, including the role of alcohol and drug use;
the teaching of abstinence as the only way to avoid
pregnancy, STD and related health problems;
(continued)
Abstinence Only—may include:
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discussion of condom and contraceptive use along
with factual presentation of risks and failure rates;
the teaching of state law related to sexual conduct;
and
the teaching that a mutually faithful monogamous
relationship in context of marriage is the most healthy
option.
Abstinence Plus
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MUST include all the components listed
above
Any programmatic curriculum that has
been approved
Draft Implementation Plan
Step 1: Best Practices
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Program should be sequential in its scope
and age appropriate.
Curriculum is medically accurate and meets
the needs of students and the school district.
District data should be reviewed and
considered.
Form a group of interested stakeholders
including parents, community leaders and
educators (health council) to give input on the
plan, using the wellness policy as a guide
Communicate with parents and community
regarding the direction of this implementation,
being as transparent as possible.
Step 2: Answer these key
questions:
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Grade level where instruction will begin?
Who will provide instruction?
What curricula will be used?
Consider the logistics of separating boys
and girls for instruction.
How will parent permission forms be
handled?
Step 3: Develop District Plan to
include:
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Procedures for maintenance and dissemination of
permission forms
Identification of staff who will be provide instruction
Separation of boys and girls, management of time and
space, including students whose parents have opted out
Curriculum choices from the provided list of curricula
Policy development and Board adoption
Report choices to OHS by June 30, 2012
Begin implementation August 2012
Resources Available for You at
www.healthyschoolsms.org
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House Bill 999
Draft Policies
Implementation Plan
Approved Resources
House Bill 999 District Reporting Form
House Bill 999 Supplemental Resources
for Sex Education (RFP)
For technical assistance questions and
reporting: ohshb999@mde.k12.ms.us
Additional Resources & Technical
Assistance
**A workgroup has convened to review curricula.
This group includes representatives from MDE,
district/school level, the community and MSDH.
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Professional Development Trainings for instructors
teachers, counselors and nurses were provided in
September 2011
Health In Action Lesson Plans
www.activities.healthyschoolsms.org
Health Education Curriculum
For More Information Contact:
Shalonda Matthews –
SCmatthews@mde.k12.ms.us
Estelle Watts –
ewatts@mde.k12.ms.us
Christine Philley –
cphilley@mde.k12.ms.us
Office of Healthy Schools
Mississippi Department of Education
601-359-1737