bill overview
Passing the Healthy Youth Act (S.340/H.656) will expand the reach and positive impact of DESE’s new Comprehensive Health and Physical Education Framework, which includes updated standards for sex education and was unanimously approved by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in 2023.
While the updated Framework is a significant step forward, the Healthy Youth Act is needed to:
While the updated Framework is a significant step forward, the Healthy Youth Act is needed to:
- Collect data on sexual health education taught in schools. Currently, the state doesn't track which districts teach sex education, which curricula they use, or how many students receive this type of education. Collecting this data, like we do for other essential subjects like literacy and math, will help improve student outcomes.
- Ensure routine updates to the Framework. Until 2023, the Comprehensive Health and Physical Education Framework hadn’t been updated since 1999. Students and teachers deserve consistent access to high-quality curricula standards for health education and shouldn’t have to wait another 24 years or more before the next Framework update.
- Remove ineffective and harmful education from our schools. Any sex education taught in our schools must meet the minimum standards outlined in the Framework. This means that if a district chooses to teach sex education, it has to be medically accurate, age appropriate, and LGBTQ-inclusive. This will remove abstinence-only education from our classrooms while supporting the decision to remain abstinent.
bill history
The Healthy Youth Act was first introduced during the 2011-2012 legislative session by then-senator Katherine Clark and Rep. Jim O'Day. Since then, the bill has passed the Senate in each of the last five consecutive legislative sessions. The momentum is real, and with your help, we can get the Healthy Youth Act over the finish line this session.
bill status
The Healthy Youth Act was re-filed by lead sponsors Sen. Sal DiDomenico, Leader Jim O'Day, and Rep. Vanna Howard in January 2025 and referred to the Joint Committee on Education in February 2025.