EyesOpenIowa is part of the Sex Education Collaborative (SEC), a national collaborative that developed the Professional Learning Standards for Sex Education. These standards provide guidance for educators and school districts about content, skills, and professional disposition needed to implement sex education effectively.

The National Sex Education Standards: Core Content and Skills, K–12 (Second Edition) were developed by the Future of Sex Education (FoSE) Initiative, a partnership between Advocates for Youth, Answer, and SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change that seeks to create a national dialogue about the future of sex education and to promote the institutionalization of quality sex education in public schools. To learn more, please visit www.futureofsexed.org.

Iowa’s Human Growth and Development Mandate

Iowa Code 279.50 outlines the legal requirements for sexual health education in public schools across the state. In simple terms, all Iowa public schools must teach age-appropriate, research-based instruction on human growth and development. This includes topics like:

• Human sexuality

• Self-esteem and stress management

• Healthy relationships and interpersonal skills

• Domestic abuse prevention

• Information about HPV and the HPV vaccine

• HIV/AIDS education

Instruction begins in kindergarten, focusing on life skills and early development, and continues through 12th grade, with content evolving to meet students’ needs at each stage.

School districts are required to use evidence-based strategies and materials and are encouraged to regularly evaluate and update their curriculum to ensure it stays current and effective.

EyesOpenIowa supports schools across the state in meeting this mandate by providing training, curriculum support, and technical assistance to educators.

For more information or support with implementing this requirement, contact us at info@eyesopeniowa.org.

You can view the full text of Iowa Code 279.50 here.

AMAZE offers a robust library of short, animated videos that cover a wide range of sex ed topics—from puberty and healthy relationships to consent and contraception. The videos are engaging, age-appropriate, and often humorous—making them a great tool for sparking conversation with teens.

The AMAZE Educator section includes curated playlists, ready-to-use lesson plans, discussion guides, parent letters, and more. All materials are created by experts in the field with youth input and are completely free and regularly updated—making it easy for educators to bring quality content into their classrooms or programs.

It is vital to reach teens with developmental and intellectual disabilities with inclusive, accurate sexual health information, as they are often a vulnerable and underserved population. Here is an info sheet from RespectAbility.org’s Disability Belongs initiative to support these important conversations. EOI’s training department is also here to help. For additional guidance or training opportunities on this topic, contact us at info@eyesopeniowa.org.

This section is under revision. Check back soon for the latest resources!

This kit includes everything you need to get the word out about this important resource—short summary, suggested posts, links, etc.

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report provides data on health behaviors and experiences of high school students in the United States. Data highlight students' behaviors and experiences in 2023, changes from 2021 to 2023, and 10-year trends. The report focuses on:

• Sexual behavior

• Substance use

• Experiences of violence

• Mental health

• Suicidal thoughts and behaviors

This report provides the most recent surveillance data on prevalent and emerging health behaviors and experiences among U.S. high school students. View the report here.

Teens want—and need—to talk about pornography. It’s essential for trusted adults to create space for healthy, honest conversations about this topic. This resource offers age-appropriate tools and guidance to help professionals navigate these discussions with care and confidence.