Resources For educators and youth-serving adults

At EyesOpenIowa, our mission centers around supporting the professionals who support teens. Whether you're a teacher, counselor, school administrator, nurse, or direct service provider, we’re here to equip you with the tools, confidence, and skills to engage young people in meaningful conversations about sexual health.

Below, you’ll find a collection of high-quality resources you can access anytime—perfect for quick reference, lesson prep, or building comfort with key topics. These tools are designed to complement, not replace, the deeper learning and personalized support offered through our live trainings.

We’re proud to work alongside such a passionate, committed community of professionals—and we’re glad to be part of your journey.


Understanding Iowa’s New Fetal Development Video Requirement (SF175)

As the new school year begins, Iowa schools face an important change in Human Growth and Development instruction. SF175, signed into law on June 6, 2025, requires school districts to show students in grades 5–12 a fetal development video as part of their health education curriculum. (View the law here)

While the law does not mandate a specific video, it’s important for districts to choose materials carefully. Some widely circulated videos have raised concerns from educators and medical professionals due to scientific inaccuracies and ideological framing. To complicate matters further, the law prohibits using resources from trusted institutions like Mayo Clinic and the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

At EyesOpenIowa (EOI), we know schools want to provide high-quality, medically accurate, and age-appropriate health education. We’re here to help districts navigate these new requirements thoughtfully and responsibly.

These videos are recommended by Iowa OB-GYNs and national experts as accurate, appropriate options that meet the new law’s requirements.

➡️ Human Growth and Development During Pregnancy by Health Care Education and Training

➡️Pregnancy 101 by National Geographic

➡️ How a Human Embryo Develops into a Fetus by Britannica

At EyesOpenIowa, our mission remains clear: to support schools, educators, and families in delivering sex education that is accurate, inclusive, and empowering for young people. Together, we can ensure Iowa’s students continue to receive the quality education they deserve.

Please reach out if we can support your district or answer any questions around best practices in health education.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Classroom Teachers, Counselors, Therapists, and Direct Support Professionals

Whether you're teaching in a classroom, providing one-on-one support, or guiding teens through personal challenges, you may be the trusted adult they turn to for questions about sexual health. We know these conversations can be sensitive—and we're here to help. Explore these resources to support open, inclusive, and accurate discussions about sexual health with the young people you serve.

  • 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.

Need more guidance?

Email us; we’ll point you in the right direction!

info@eyesopeniowa.org