From the Future of Sex Ed Project (FoSE) 

 Four leading health organizations released the first-ever national standards for sexuality education in schools. Published in the Journal of School Health, the ground-breaking National Sexuality Education Standards: Core Content and Skills, K-12 provide clear, consistent, and straightforward guidance on the essential minimum, core content for sexuality education that is developmentally and age-appropriate for students in grades Kindergarten through grade 12.

The standards are the result of a cooperative effort by the American Association of Health Education, the American School Health Association, the National Education Association Health Information Network, and the Society of State Leaders of Health and Physical Education, in coordination with the Future of Sex Education (FoSE) Initiative. Nearly 40 stakeholders including content experts, medical and public health professionals, teachers, sexuality educators, and young people developed the standards in a two-year process.

"These National Sexuality Education Standards provide teachers, schools, school districts, and state education agencies with a new national standard-the minimum they need to teach to set students on a path to sexual health and responsible adulthood," said Jerry Newberry, Executive Director of the National Education Association Health Information Network (NEA HIN). "They set forth essential sexuality education core content and skills responsive to the needs of students and in service to their overall academic achievement."

Visit the WISE Iowa Project page to learn more about the standards and how EyesOpenIowa can help your school utilize this new tool.

2nd Session of the 84th General  Assembly Opens

The 2012 Legislative Session began, Monday, January 9th with opening speeches by Senate and House Leadership.  Tuesday, Governor Branstad gave the Condition of the State Address and Wednesday, the Condition of the Judiciary was given to joint sessions of the House and Senate.  

This session, legislators are pushing for bi-partisan support for education and mental health reform, job creation and growing the economy.

Watch for EyesOpenIowa at the Capitol, a new advocacy newsletter,as well as email alerts that may ask for your help in contacting your legislators with regard to adolescent sexual health issues.  Contact:  Julie Stone  - Julie@eyesopeniowa.org.