SB 2413 Summary

• Requires local school boards to adopt and implement "personal responsibility" education in middle and high school curricula by June 30, 2017, with instruction beginning in the 2017-2018 school year.

• Mandates personal responsibility education occur at least once in grades 6-8 and at least once in grades 9-12, with curriculum selected from a state-approved list deemed evidence-based and medically accurate by the Mississippi State Department of Health.

• Requires curriculum to include information that abstinence is the only 100% effective way to prevent unintended pregnancy and prohibits any curriculum that teaches abortion as a pregnancy prevention method.

• Establishes that schools must provide written parental consent forms yearly informing parents of the curriculum and requesting permission for their child to participate in personal responsibility education.

• Requires separation of boys and girls into different classrooms during sex-related education instruction and mandates annual reporting by the State Department of Education to legislative education committees on curriculum adoption and student participation by grade level.