Less than 4 percent of Illinois public schools agreed to teach the National Sex Education Standards promoted by Democrats across the United States.
More than 500 of Illinois school districts opted out of the standards, with only 20 districts adopting them, The Center Square reported. The Illinois standards teach elementary students, including kindergartners, about consent, gender identity, hormone blockers, and healthy relationships. Middle schoolers learn about dating violence prevention, different types of sex, and sexual harassment.
The National Sex Education standards have raised parental concerns throughout the nation. Thousands of Massachusetts parents opted their children out of a federally funded sex education curriculum that teaches kindergartners about gay and transgender sex, the Washington Free Beacon reported last November. The Nebraska Department of Education shut out religious groups from the sex ed curriculum development process in October 2021, which included plans to teach elementary school students about gender identity and transgender hormone therapy.
Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker (D.) signed a bill aligning the national sex ed standards with those of the state, making Illinois the first state to adopt the standards last August. Pritzker said the law "will help keep our children safe."
State representative Adam Niemerg, R-Dietrich, however, said the standards are not age appropriate.
"This is well beyond what the conversations that should be happening with our children in schools on this particular issue, when they should be focusing on reading, studying, and enjoying sports," Niemerg told The Center Square.