INDIANA – Beginning July 1, new legislation will reshape how Indiana public school districts approach instruction on human sexuality and sexually transmitted infections. Senate Bill 442, signed into law by Governor Mike Braun on May 6, introduces stricter guidelines for sex education curricula and parental involvement.
Under the provisions of SB 442, school districts offering human sexuality instruction are now mandated to include specific lessons on the topic of consent in sexual situations. Additionally, a presentation on human growth during pregnancy is now a required component of the curriculum. The bill’s journey through the legislature was marked by debate, particularly in April when the Indiana House of Representatives added amendments to the initially passed Senate bill. These amendments notably included a requirement for a video demonstrating a developing fetus and an additional emphasis on the importance of consent.
The new law also significantly enhances parental oversight. School corporations must now obtain parental consent before incorporating certain materials into sex education courses. Furthermore, the bill prohibits the use of any curricular materials for human sexuality instruction that have not received approval from the school corporation’s governing body. To ensure transparency, the governing body of school corporations is now required to publish a comprehensive list of all materials utilized in these courses on the school’s website, with a direct link to this webpage provided on all consent forms.
SB 442 ultimately passed the Senate on April 23 with a vote of 35-12.
