Impact of Sexual Education Curriculum Revision on High School Students Based on Perception of Quality Instruction
Background: In the United States the rates of sexually transmitted infection (STI) have continued to rise in persons aged 15-24. There is currently no national curriculum mandate for public schools in regard to sexual education curriculum. Education is a state right, and large variations are found in the content of curriculum regarding sexual education. Objective: Propose implementing educator training using new curriculum standards, and evaluate their effectiveness on students ages 14-18. Record the perceived quality of sexual education from students. Methods: Larabee’s Model for Evidence Based Practice Change provides structure to create, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of sexual education curriculum reform. Evaluation of this intervention's effectiveness will be completed through surveys of students before and after classes. Students will receive education in age cohorts. Results: Classes will be evaluated using the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) standards for sexual education with additional feedback on the curriculum's ability to satisfy personal goals of sexual education. Surveys will be completed before class to evaluate current education and repeated after class to evaluate the newer model. Implications: The implications of implementing this program could be an increase in student and educator confidence in the perceived quality of sexual education for those who experienced the curriculum reform.