Kansas State of Sex Ed
Current Requirement: Kansas must teach human sexuality as part of physical education.
- Health education standards exist but are non-assessed, meaning schools are not required to follow them.
- Curriculum is not required to include instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity.
- Curriculum must include the viewing of “a high-quality, computer-generated animation or high-definition ultrasound of at least three minutes in duration that shows the development of the brain, heart and other vital organs in early human fetal development”, typically “Meet Baby Olivia”.
- Curriculum is not required to include instruction on consent.
- Kansas has no regulation regarding medically accurate sex education instruction.
- Kansas has no standard regarding the ability of parents and guardians to remove their children from sex education instruction, leaving it up to school districts to decide whether or not to hold opt-in or opt-out policies.
*In 2026, this state’s overall grade changed slightly from 2025 because our grading methodology changed. For more information on grading methodology, see the Executive Summary on the State Profiles webpage.
Recent Legislation Shaping the State Landscape
Only one sex education bill was introduced in Kansas during the 2026 legislative session. House Bill 2576 would have required instruction on child sexual abuse prevention; however, the bill died in committee.
Advocates in Kansas were dealt a blow regarding sex education policy with the passage of House Bill 2382 in the 2025 legislative session, which requires the inclusion of a high-definition fetal development video such as LiveAction’s “Meet Baby Olivia” video and instruction in human sexuality classrooms. This law, under the guise of human growth and development instruction, will ensure Kansas classrooms receive anti-abortion misinformation and perpetuate abortion stigma.
Advocates in Action
Advocates can take action to ensure young people in Kansas have access to quality human sexuality instruction instead of misinformation. Advocates can contact their representatives to discuss the critical need to repeal their “Baby Olivia” law, revise the Kansas Health Education Standards, require implementation, and enact a statewide comprehensive sex education mandate. Advocates are encouraged to use the Community Action Toolkit to strengthen local organizing efforts. For additional guidance, advocates can contact the SIECUS Policy team by emailing [email protected] or join the Sexuality Education Policy Action Council (SEPAC) using our interest form.
More on Sex Ed in Kansas…
State Law: A Closer Look
The Kansas Administrative Regulations (§ 91-31-32) require that elementary and secondary students be taught “physical education, which shall include instruction in health and human sexuality.” Kansas does not require schools to follow a specific curriculum. Kansas does not require parental permission for students to participate in health and human sexuality instruction. Local school districts decide whether to offer an opt-in or opt-out policy.
In 2025, House Bill 2382 was enacted into law and now requires the following:
“72-3267. Human fetal development presentation requirement for certain courses. Any school district that offers any course or other instruction that addresses human growth, human development, or human sexuality shall include, as part of such course or instruction, a presentation of a high-quality, computer-generated animation or high-definition ultrasound of at least three minutes in duration that shows the development of the brain, heart, and other vital organs in early human fetal development.
History: L. 2025, ch. 111, § 1; July 1.”
State Standards
The Kansas Model Curricular Standards for Health Education outline basic competency requirements for public schools. The standards establish the Family Life, Relationships and Human Sexuality content standards for kindergarten through grade 12. Students in grades 9-12 must be able to evaluate:
- Adapting to changes associated with puberty
- Adapting to change within the family
- Changing responsibilities from adolescence to adulthood
- Responsible behaviors within relationships (communication, abstinence, etc.)
- Potential outcomes of sexual activity (STIs, pregnancy, etc.)
- Impact of media and technology on sexual behaviors
- Laws associated with sexual behaviors (consent, harassment, assault, rape, human trafficking, etc.)
- Differences between individual, family, culture, community, and global values
However, Kansas Standards for Health Education are non-assessed, meaning they are not considered for accreditation. Therefore, schools can choose what kind of content and curriculum is being taught on human sexuality.
Youth Sexual Health Data
The CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) tracks adolescent health behaviors, including sexual health behaviors. In 2023, Kansas’s high school YRBS data was not weighted to represent all students and did not include middle school YRBS data. The CDC’s School Health Profiles measure school health policies, practices, and the sexual health topics taught in schools. Kansas’s results were not representative for the 2024 School Health Profiles Survey. Visit the CDC’s School Health Profiles 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.