2. Sex-related education bill
HB999 Presentation
Sex-related education bill
March 28, 2011

3. Why do we need a sex-related education bill?
Mississippi has the highest rate of teen pregnancy
In MS there are 65.7 pregnancy for every 1000 young women ages 15-19
Parenthood is the leading cause of school dropout
Children of teen mothers face more health, and academic challenges than their peers

4. Implementation Timeline
By July 2012, every school district must adopt a policy on:
Abstinence-only education, or
Abstinence-plus education
By August 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 school year.

5. Highlights of HB999 Section 37-13-171, MS Code of 1972
When choosing abstinence-only curriculum may contain
Remains the state standard
Instruction must be factual and age/grade appropriate
Gains realized through abstinence
Consequences that sexual activity is likely to produce
Unwanted sexual advances
Discussion of birth control, failure rates, and STD’s
Current laws related to sexual conduct

6. Highlights of HB999 Section 37-13-171, MS Code of 1972
When choosing abstinence-plus curriculum must contain all of previous elements and
Any other programmatic component that is approved
May not include demonstrations of condom application
Factual presentation of risks and failure rates.

7. Highlights of HB999 Section 37-13-171, MS Code of 1972
Other measures
No effort to teach abortion as a means to prevent birth
Boys and Girls must be separated for instruction
Requires written notice of inclusion
May offer parent education
School nurses responsible to implement program

8. Highlights of HB999 Section 37-13-171, MS Code of 1972
Establishment of Teen Pregnancy Prevention Task Force to study the implementation and success of these measures (17)
Specific appointments from various agencies
Legislative appointments
Community appointments

9. Technical Assistance
The Mississippi Department of Education, Office of Healthy Schools will provide:
A list of Approved Supplemental Resource Providers
Template for developing protocol
Set up an electronic reporting system.

10. “Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough;
we must do.”
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
You know the statistics now. You’ll soon know the warning signs (if you don’t already). You’re willing to be part of the team for in-service training. Are you willing to be that point of school connectedness for a student? Will you apply what you know and ACT if a student chooses you to be that person they reveal their suicide intent to?

11. School Health Administrator
Contact Information
Dana Hale
School Health Administrator