THE BENEFITS OF COMPREHENSIVE SEX EDUCATION

There are a variety of populations that benefit from the introduction of comprehensive sex education into curriculum. Arguably, the most important of which is the students themselves. When students have access to higher quality comprehensive sex education, they experience improvements in both their physical and mental health, in their relationships, and in risk-behavior reduction.

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The overall school environment also benefits from comprehensive sex education being incorporated into curriculum. Comprehensive sex education positively impacts student health, and there is a direct relationship between student health and academic achievement. Students with positive health outcomes are shown to be better learners (Basch, 2011; Dilley, 2009; The Society of State Directors of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, 2002; US Department of Health and Human Services, 2009). A student body that is successful on standardized tests is greatly beneficial to their school, as higher test scores typically indicate greater funding. Another benefit to the school system is the reduction in violence to minority student populations that results from access to comprehensive sex education.

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Finally, incorporating comprehensive sex education into curriculum beginning as early as kindergarten benefits larger communities as a whole. The benefits that entire communities experience as a result of access to medically accurate, sex-positive, consent-based sex education include changes in community norms as well as changes in legislation.

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