The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) finalized new standards for sexual health education in 2023. S.268/H.544, An Act relative to healthy youth, requires the use of these comprehensive standards for schools that choose to offer sex education. LWVMA, a member of the Healthy Youth Act Coalition, supports this legislation to require scientifically accurate sex education in public schools. Read our testimony supporting the bill here. 

We applaud the Massachusetts Senate passing S.268, An Act relative to healthy youth, last Thursday for the fifth time. However, House Speaker Mariano publicly stated he continues to prefer a wait-and-see approach. 

Please call or email your state representative today using the sample script below and ask them to urge leadership to bring the Healthy Youth Act to the House floor for a vote. Find them here. 

Sample script:

Subject: Urge leadership to bring H.544, An Act relative to healthy youth, to the floor for a vote

“Dear Representative ____________,

The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts (LWVMA) supports teaching medically accurate, age-appropriate, and inclusive sex education in our public schools.

Although the new MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) guidelines on health and sex education are a positive step, the Commonwealth does not require schools that offer sex education to use them. H.544, An Act relative to healthy youth, would compel schools to use the updated guidelines, which include coverage of consent before engaging in a sexual relationship. 

Schools can still opt out of teaching sex education, and parents are also allowed to opt their children out of these classes. 

Please urge House leadership to bring this bill to the floor for a vote before the end of formal session on July 31.

Thank you for your consideration.

Best regards,

Name

Address (include your street address to establish you are a constituent)

Feel free to personalize your email by adding why teaching medically accurate sex ed in public schools is important to you. Remember to include your name and complete street address within your email. 

We encourage all League members to contact their state representatives today and to share the action with their personal networks.

Questions? Email specialists@lwvma.org.