MADISON - ST. CLAIR RECORD

(Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect that Central School District 104 confirmed that it has opted out of the sex ed program)

East St. Louis School District 189 is one of at least 24 school districts in Illinois to have adopted the Keeping Youth Safe and Happy Act, which is the state’s sex education curriculum that has been met with controversy over its elementary school guidelines.

The Keeping Youth Safe and Happy Act, or Senate Bill 818, was signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Aug. 19, 2021, and requires Illinois school districts that teach sexual education to begin in kindergarten.

The State Board of Education was tasked with developing specific learning standards. Those standards must align with the National Sex Education Standards, which suggests instructing elementary school students on topics including masturbation, intercourse, sexual preferences and birth. 

The East St. Louis School District joins a number of districts in Cook County, Dekalb County, DuPage County, Kankakee County, Lake County, Macon County, McCLean County, Rock Island County and Winnebego County by adopting the program.

The district’s superintendent and school board president have not responded to a request for comment. 

In Madison County, East Alton Wood River District 14, Granite City School District 9 and Madison School District 12 did not respond to requests asking them whether they opted in or out of the program. All other school districts confirmed that they have opted out.

In St. Clair County, Brooklyn School District 188, Cahokia School District 187, Pontiac-William Holliday School District 105 and Signal Hill District 181 did not respond to requests asking them whether they chose to opt in or out of the program. All other school districts in the county confirmed that they have opted out. 

Madison County Regional Superintendent of Schools Robert Werden previously said parents are able to opt out of the program for their children even if the school has adopted the curriculum. 

Section 27-9.1d of the bill states, “No student shall be required to take or participate in any class or course in comprehensive personal health and safety and comprehensive sexual health education. A student’s parent or guardian may opt the student out of comprehensive personal health and safety and comprehensive sexual health education by submitting the request in writing.”

“Refusal to take or participate in such a course or program may not be a reason for disciplinary action, academic penalty, suspension, or expulsion or any other sanction of a student. A school district may not require active parental consent for comprehensive personal health and safety and comprehensive sexual health education,” it continues. 

The bill also states that parents or guardians must be given the opportunity to review the instructional materials to be used in the sex education course. 

“A school district shall annually post, on its Internet website if one exists, which curriculum is used to provide comprehensive personal health and safety and comprehensive sexual health education and the name and contact information, including an email address, of school personnel who can respond to inquiries about instruction and materials,” the bill states.

The website for East St. Louis School District 189 provided parents and guardians with a form informing them of their rights to opt out of the program. 

The National Sex Education Standards provides Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education, suggesting children ages five through eight years old to learn about topics including, but not limited to:

• Medical terminology for body parts and their functions
• Differences between male and female
• “Both boys and girls have body parts that feel good when touched.”
• “Touching and rubbing one’s own genitals to feel good is called masturbation.”
• “People often kiss, hug, touch and engage in other sexual behaviors with one another to show caring and to feel good.”
• Puberty and body changes
• Reproduction
• “Vaginal intercourse - when a penis is placed inside a vagina - is the common way for a sperm and egg to join.”
• Pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding
• Body differences, such as size, shapes and colors
• Heterosexual and homosexual
• Sexually transmitted diseases

The guidelines suggest children ages nine through 12 to learn about topics including, but not limited to:

• Puberty and maturing sexual organs
• Ability to reproduce
• Conception and contraception 
• Body image 
• Sexual orientation
• “Gender identity refers to a person’s internal sense of being male, female, or a combination of these.”
• Children are not ready for sexual intercourse and other sexual behaviors
• Pregnancy 
• Abortion

The guidelines suggest children ages 12 through 15 to learn about topics including, but not limited to:

• “Sexual response system differs from the reproductive system.”
• “Some sexual and reproductive organs provide pleasure.”
• Ovulation and contraception 
• Sexual intercourse during pregnancy
• The size and shape of sexual organs vary and the resulting body image
• Sexual orientation
• “Gender identity is different from sexual orientation.”
• Abstinence
• Sexual fantasies
• Sexual dysfunction
• Prenatal care
• Abortion laws

The guidelines suggest adolescents ages 15 through 18 to learn about topics including, but not limited to:

• Orgasms
• Sexual orientation and gender identity
• Prenatal development
• Hormones
• Menopause
• Infertility and available resources 
• Body image
• Discrimination 
• “Some sexual fantasies involve mysterious or forbidden things.”
• Causes of sexual dysfunction and management 
• Types of abortion

The topics listed are just a sampling of the topics recommended in the 112-page guideline. However, Senate Bill 818 specifically addresses education on consent, including setting boundaries, respecting boundaries and the right to refuse to engage in unwanted activities.