West Virginia’s Sex Education Snapshot
The State of Sex Education
West Virginia advocates have taken significant steps to advance sex education in recent years. Despite repeated legislative efforts to limit access to reproductive heath care services, including abortion, and attempts to ban sex education, progress has been made in the state. Most recently, Representative Joe Jefferies introduced House Bill 4153 in an ultimately unsuccessful effort to forbid displays related to sexuality in public schools and, alarmingly, prohibit teaching sex education.
In 2022, a number of bills concerning “divisive concepts” in schools were introduced. The National Coalition Against Censorship categorizes divisive concepts as “a broad term for ideas about race and sex that challenges the dominant narrative of America’s founding and history.” House Bill 2595, introduced by Delegate Riley Keaton, Senate Bill 182, introduced by Senator Mike Azinger, Senate Bill 45, introduced by Senator Robert Karnes, Senate Bill 498, introduced by Senator Patricia Rucker, and House Bill 4016, introduced by Delegate Dean Jeffries, would have restricted or prohibited instruction on divisive acts, divisive concepts, or critical race theory (CRT). Restricting instruction on such concepts directly contradicts the recommendations outlined in the updated National Sex Education Standards. Comprehensive sex education should be trauma-informed, address social, racial, and reproductive justice and equity, and incorporate intersectionality. It is crucial to provide an accurate picture of systemic racism and oppression throughout U.S. history to address health disparities. This information is also essential to raise young people who understand systemic harm, who can recognize and reject harmful stereotypes, and who value equity and inclusion. Fortunately, all of these bills died in committee.
In 2018, the West Virginia legislature passed “Erin’s Law”, mandating the creation of a task force to prevent the sexual abuse of children. The passage of Erin’s Law allowed for further, ongoing efforts to incorporate sexual violence prevention education in K-12. Advocates such as WV FREE are working with local partners to advance Erin’s Law and ensure schools are supported in implementing sexual abuse prevention education for young people. Advocates are also working to gradually update the state’s wellness standards and note that improved implementation of updated requirements will be essential in schools’ abilities to adjust sex education curriculum.
While schools in West Virginia are required to teach sex education, they establish their own standards for curriculum. Because HIV/AIDS is the only mandatory topic that sex education must cover, curriculum varies greatly across the state and even within districts. Local control over sex education presents unique challenges that have resulted in a glaring disparity regarding the quality of sex education that students receive. Such discretion allows for the implementation of policies and curriculum that stigmatize marginalized youth, such as students of color and LGBTQ youth, and presents further challenges in ensuring that low income districts have access to the resources needed to implement comprehensive sex education.
In light of the coronavirus, advocates have reported that further difficulty in implementing sex education due to its low priority among educators as districts work to address the basic needs of their students during this time. In response, advocates have worked to offer online assistance, resources, and digital lessons to sex educators.
While some districts, such as Raleigh County, have successfully implemented comprehensive sex education, others continue to fail to provide substantial instruction. Students report that the curriculum often lacks information about contraceptive options. To address this gap in education, community health educators from Planned Parenthood South Atlantic and WV Free provide comprehensive sex education programming for students and parents. Similarly, McDowell County schools have begun offering an after school elective sex education program called “Teen Talk” in collaboration with OBGYNs affiliated with Marshall University. Advocates report that the lack of a consistent implementation process and formal educator training for sex education instruction are among the biggest barriers to quality sex education for young people in West Virginia.
Right now, advocates can take action to ensure young people in their community have access to quality sex education. After identifying what topics are missing from local sex education requirements, advocates can vocalize the importance of implementing specific elements such as trauma informed, culturally responsive curriculum that addresses the needs of youth of color and LGBTQ young people, expansive instruction on contraceptive options, and consent. Advocates are encouraged to take action on pending legislation that seeks to advance or restrict the principles of comprehensive sex education. For a current overview of pending legislation, see table below. Additionally, reach out to EducateUs to get connected to local advocacy groups. Advocates are also encouraged to contact their representatives and discuss the critical need for advanced sex education policies in West Virginia schools. Advocates are encouraged to use the SIECUS Community Action Toolkit to guide local efforts to advance sex education.
State Sex Education Policies and Requirements at a Glance
- West Virginia schools are required to teach sex education.
- Curriculum is not required to be comprehensive.
- Curriculum must include instruction on abstinence.
- Curriculum is not required to include instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity.
- Curriculum is not required to include instruction on consent.
- Parents or guardians may remove their children from any part of this instruction by written notification to the principal. This is referred to as an “opt-out” policy.
- West Virginia has no standard on medically accurate sex education.
State House Highlights
This section highlights sex education bills that were introduced during the 2021 state legislative session as well as bills that have been introduced thus far in 2022. These proposed bills provide a brief overview of both recent and current legislative action taken to advance or restrict sex education. For a more comprehensive look at relevant legislation concerning sex education and related topics such as reproductive health care, LGBTQ rights, racial equity and justice, parental rights, bullying and harassment, mental health, assault and violence prevention, and HIV/STIs as it impacts youth, continue reading on to the “State Legislative Activity” section of West Virginia’s profile.
No bills have been introduced concerning sex education to date.
More on sex ed in West Virginia…
State Law
West Virginia law (West Virginia Code §18-2-9) requires “course curriculum requirements and materials [to] be adopted by the state board by rule in consultation with the Department of Health and Human Resources.” This means all school districts must adhere to the West Virginia College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Wellness Education. West Virginia Code §18-2-9 also requires human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) prevention education within the general health education curriculum in grades 6–12. According to the West Virginia Board of Education’s AIDS Education Policy 2422.4, “[t]he goal of this policy is to assist in the protection of students by providing them with the knowledge and skills necessary to avoid behaviors that will put them at the risk of infection with [HIV].” Each county board must integrate HIV prevention education into health courses and may also include it in “science, social studies, and developmental guidance” courses in order to “assure total understanding of the disease and its consequences.” Educators conducting classroom instruction about HIV/AIDS must be qualified professionals who participate in staff development to ensure they teach current AIDS information.
Parents or guardians may remove their children from any part of this instruction by written notification to the principal. This is referred to as an “opt-out” policy.
State Standards
West Virginia does not require any specific curriculum; however, the Board of Education’s West Virginia College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Wellness Education curriculum framework includes sexual health. The standards include discussion on communicable disease prevention and transmission, including HIV and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), the functions of the reproductive system, and “factors that lead to teen pregnancy” as well as methods to prevent pregnancy.
State Legislative Activity
State legislative activity related to sex education does not take place in isolation from the broader embroiled political and policy climate. Attacks on the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning (LGBTQ) individuals, attempts to restrict or prohibit instruction on “divisive concepts” such as Critical Race Theory, and efforts to limit access to abortion care and other reproductive health care services prevent students from receiving comprehensive sex education and accessing sexual and reproductive health care services. Below are highlights of current legislative activity related to these topics. West Virginia’s 2022 session convened on January 12, 2022.
Youth Sexual Health Data
Young people are more than their health behaviors and outcomes. While data can be a powerful tool to demonstrate the sex education and sexual health care needs of young people, it is important to be mindful that these behaviors and outcomes are impacted by systemic inequities present in our society that affect an individual’s sexual health and well-being. To learn more about West Virginia’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) results, click here.
West Virginia School Health Profiles Data
In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the School Health Profiles, which measure school health policies and practices and highlight which health topics were taught in schools across the country. Since the data were collected from self-administered questionnaires completed by schools’ principals and lead health education teachers, the CDC notes that one limitation of the School Health Profiles is bias toward the reporting of more positive policies and practices. In the School Health Profiles, the CDC identifies 20 sexual health education topics as critical for ensuring a young person’s sexual health. Below are key instruction highlights for secondary schools in West Virginia as reported for the 2017–2018 school year.
Reported teaching all 20 critical sexual health education topics
- 28.0% of West Virginia secondary schools taught students all 20 critical sexual health education topics in a required course in any of grades 6, 7, or 8.
- 59.0% of West Virginia secondary schools taught students all 20 critical sexual health education topics in a required course in any of grades 9, 10, 11, or 12.
Reported teaching about the benefits of being sexually abstinent
- 86.1% of West Virginia secondary schools taught students about the benefits of being sexually abstinent in a required course in any of grades 6, 7, or 8.
- 97.1% of West Virginia secondary schools taught students about the benefits of being sexually abstinent in a required course in any of grades 9, 10, 11, or 12.
Reported teaching how to access valid and reliable information, products, and services related to HIV, other STDs, and pregnancy
- 78.9% of West Virginia secondary schools taught students how to access valid and reliable information, products, and services related to HIV, other STDs, and pregnancy in a required course in any of grades 6, 7, or 8.
- 92.7% of West Virginia secondary schools taught students how to access valid and reliable information, products, and services related to HIV, other STDs, and pregnancy in a required course in any of grades 9, 10, 11, or 12.
Reported teaching how to create and sustain healthy and respectful relationships
- 84.9% of West Virginia secondary schools taught students how to create and sustain healthy and respectful relationships in a required course in any of grades 6, 7, or 8.
- 92.5% of West Virginia secondary schools taught students how to create and sustain healthy and respectful relationships in a required course in any of grades 9, 10, 11, or 12.
Reported teaching about preventive care that is necessary to maintain reproductive and sexual health
- 73% of West Virginia secondary schools taught students about preventive care that is necessary to maintain reproductive and sexual health in a required course in any of grades 6, 7, or 8.
- 89.6% of West Virginia secondary schools taught students about preventive care that is necessary to maintain reproductive and sexual health in a required course in any of grades 9, 10, 11, or 12.
Reported teaching how to correctly use a condom
- 41.0% of West Virginia secondary schools taught students how to correctly use a condom in a required course in any of grades 6, 7, or 8.
- 68.5% of West Virginia secondary schools taught students how to correctly use a condom in a required course in any of grades 9, 10, 11, or 12.
Reported teaching about methods of contraception other than condoms
- 61.0% of West Virginia secondary schools taught students about methods of contraception other than condoms in a required course in any of grades 6, 7, or 8.
- 88.1% of West Virginia secondary schools taught students about methods of contraception other than condoms in a required course in any of grades 9, 10, 11, or 12.
Reported teaching about sexual orientation
- 42.7% of West Virginia secondary schools taught students about sexual orientation in a required course in any of grades 6, 7, or 8.
- 72.8% of West Virginia secondary schools taught students about sexual orientation in a required course in any of grades 9, 10, 11, or 12.
Reported teaching about gender roles, gender identity, or gender expression
- 41.6% of West Virginia secondary schools taught students about gender roles, gender identity, or gender expression in a required course in any of grades 6, 7, or 8.
- 74.2% of West Virginia secondary schools taught students about gender roles, gender identity, or gender expression in a required course in any of grades 9, 10, 11, or 12.
Reported providing curricula or supplementary materials relevant to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ) youth
- 55.8% of West Virginia secondary schools provided students with curricula or supplementary materials that included HIV, STD, or pregnancy prevention information relevant to LGBTQ youth.
(Visit the CDC’s School Health Profiles report for additional information on school health policies and practices.)
***The quality of sex education taught often reflects funding available for sex education programs. To learn more about federal funding streams, click here.
Back to the SIECUS State Profiles