Public debates over sex education in schools have intensified across the United States, with many parents calling for lessons to be limited or removed and arguing that sex education should be taught only at home. However, new research suggests that many of these same parents rarely discuss important sexual health topics with their children.
According to Robin Pickering, a sex education scholar, parents strongly opposed to comprehensive sex education in schools are the least likely to talk with their children about issues like consent, contraception, gender identity, and healthy relationships. In contrast, parents who support school-based sex education are much more likely to have these conversations at home.
National surveys indicate that about 10% of parents feel sex education should be taught only at home, but this group was the most likely to report “almost never” or “never” discussing sex, sexuality, or romance with their children. The research also found that these parents are more likely to believe misinformation—for example, that discussing sex encourages early sexual activity or that condoms are not effective.
The absence of structured sex education in both schools and homes has public health consequences. Teenagers increasingly turn to the internet and pornography for information about sex, with nearly half of teens reporting online sources as their main resource. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that people aged 15 to 24 account for nearly half of all new sexually transmitted infections in the U.S.
States with the highest teen birth and infection rates, such as Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas, also tend to have the most restrictive sex education policies and poorer health outcomes.
Recent years have seen new policies that limit school-based sex education in some states. The Trump administration required California to remove gender identity materials from lessons or risk losing federal funding, and several states, including Florida, Texas, and Kentucky, have passed laws restricting what schools can teach.
Experts warn that a lack of comprehensive sex education increases risks for all young people, but especially for LGBTQ+ youth, who benefit from inclusive curricula. Research from the CDC shows that students who receive inclusive sex education are more connected to school and experience lower rates of depression and bullying.
As debates continue, the research suggests parents, schools, and policymakers should consider both scientific evidence and the well-being of students when making decisions about sex education.
