Comprehensive Sexuality Education

Every student, every day, is engaged in meaningful, affirming, grade-level instruction.

ORS 336.255 and OAR 581-022-2050 require that school districts provide comprehensive sexuality education across elementary and secondary grades. This includes instruction on child abuse prevention (ORS 336.059) and healthy teen relationships (ORS 339.366) and align with Health Education Standards adopted by the State Board of Education in 2023.

Integrated within the Oregon Health Education Standards, the Oregon Sexuality Education Standards provide a coherent set of expectations for the knowledge, skills, and practices that students will develop throughout their education. Grounded in research and informed by adolescent health professionals and community input, the standards emphasize comprehensive, age-appropriate, and not fear- or shame-based instruction that affirms the dignity of every student, reflects the diversity of Oregon's communities, and equips young people with the knowledge and skills to make decisions that keep themselves, their peers, and their communities safe, connected, and healthy.

These standards reflect Oregon’s commitment to equity, excellence, and access for every student and serve as the foundation for instruction, assessment, and high-quality instructional materials selection and implementation.

We will share updates here as future standards review or revision processes are identified. Please check back for the latest information.

Standards

Oregon K-12 Health Education Standards, which include required sexuality education standards.
K–5 standards organized by individual grade level.

Guidance & Resources

Oregon Health Education Standards: What’s New? summarizes key updates to the K-12 Health Education Standards, including new topic areas, learning progressions, and integrated Transformative Social and Emotional Learning practices.
K-12 Learning Progressions by Topic Area and Subtopics provides a grade-by-grade roadmap showing how health education knowledge and skills develop across K-12 within Oregon’s topic areas and subtopics.
Oregon Health Education Standards: Laws, Policies, and Resources Guide connects instruction on the Oregon K-12 Health Education Standards to relevant state and federal laws, policies, and instructional resources to support educators in implementation.

Key Resources

High-Quality Instructional Materials

Transformative Social & Emotional Learning

Health Education

Oregon Educational Resources/Oregon Open Learning

LGBTQ2SIA+ Student Success

School Safety & Prevention

Opt-out Guidance Two-Pager explains parent/caregiver notification and opt-out requirements for sexuality education content.
Guidance for Sex Ed Guest Speakers helps schools ensure guest speakers and presentations meet requirements for medically accurate, inclusive, comprehensive, and age-appropriate sexuality education.
Comprehensive Sex Ed Plan of Instruction: A Toolkit for Administrators and summary webinar provides a step-by-step framework for developing, implementing, and maintaining a district Comprehensive Sexuality Education Plan of Instruction that aligns with Oregon law and standards.
Comprehensive Sex Ed One-Pager offers a concise overview of comprehensive sexuality education standards, requirements, and evidence-based benefits for student health and safety.
ODE’s Director Letter highlights the importance of comprehensive sexuality education, clarifies requirements, and reinforces ODE’s commitment to supporting safe, inclusive learning environments for all students.
Comprehensive Sex Ed FAQ and in Spanish answers common questions from families and communities about sexuality education requirements, curriculum content, parent rights, and student health outcomes.
Sex Ed Made Simple: A Webinar Series (2019)
Sex Ed Made Simple: A Teachers Guide (2020)

Erin's Law Toolkit (2025) provides clarity around child abuse prevention education requirements and resources for integrated planning and evidence-informed implementation.
Domestic Violence Posters can be used to meet ORS 339.368, requiring schools to display posters in clearly visible locations.

Domestic Violence Prevention Poster Spanish
Domestic Violence Prevention Poster Arabic
Domestic Violence Prevention Poster Ukrainian
Domestic Violence Prevention Poster Vietnamese
Domestic Violence Prevention Poster Somali
Domestic Violence Prevention Poster Russian
Domestic Violence Prevention Poster Chinese (Simplified and Traditional)
Domestic Violence Prevention Poster Chuukese

Connecting Goals and Strategies for a Healthier and Safer Oregon for Young People, (Spanish) Oregon Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Task Force (SATF), highlights how comprehensive sexuality education supports shared statewide goals of preventing violence, promoting healthy relationships, improving youth well-being, and creating safer communities for all young people.
Oregon Child Abuse Mandatory Reporting Website, Department of Human Services, Child Welfare Office

Questions to Consider Before Calling the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline Infographic, October 2021
To report suspected child abuse, call the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline at 1-855-503-SAFE (7233)

Human Sexuality Education (OAR 581-022-2050) requires that each school district adopt a child sexual abuse prevention instructional program for all students, in each grade K-12, including a minimum of four lessons per year. Instruction and material must be age appropriate, medically accurate, not shame or fear based, LGBTQ2SIA+ inclusive, and build on itself. While four lessons per year is the time requirement attached to this OAR through Erin’s Law, all Health Education Standards must also be met in order to be fully in compliance with Division 22 Rule. This includes information on healthy relationships and dating violence prevention.

Human Sexuality Education Law (2009, ORS 336.455) requires schools to provide comprehensive, age-appropriate, medically accurate, and inclusive sexuality education.
Healthy Teens Relationships Act (2013, HB 4077; ORS 339.366) requires schools to address teen dating violence and promote healthy relationship education and prevention.
Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Education, also known as "Erin's Law" (2015, ORS 336.059) requires instruction that helps students recognize, prevent, and report child sexual abuse.

Domestic Violence Prevention and Response Resource Posters (2015, ORS 339.368) requires schools to display posters on domestic violence prevention and resources in clearly visible locations on campus.

The Menstrual Dignity Act (2021, ORS 329.545) requires public education providers to ensure that menstrual products are available at no cost to students in school bathrooms and that products are provided in a safe, private, accessible, and gender-affirming manner. Schools must implement policies and educational practices that support menstrual health, reduce stigma and shame, and ensure equitable access for students of all genders, abilities, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds. OARs establish requirements for product availability, student education, program implementation, and reimbursement of eligible costs.

OAR 581-021-0587: Definitions include key terms used in Oregon’s Menstrual Dignity for Students rules.
OAR 581-021-0590: Program Requirements clarifies legal requirements to provide free and accessible menstrual products in student bathrooms.
OAR 581-021-0593: Education provides that schools must provide inclusive, medically accurate menstrual health education and product-use information.
OAR 581-021-0596: Grant Program rules establish grant funding for schools’ menstrual product and dispenser costs.
OAR 581-022-2515: Requires public schools and charter schools to comply with Oregon’s Menstrual Dignity requirements as part of Division 22.

One-pagers that organize the Health Education Standards by violence prevention subtopic, by the Oregon Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Task Force (Oregon SATF)s:

ODHS Oregon My Future- My Choice Curriculum is a free Middle School Curriculum that aligns with the Oregon Health Education Standards, developed by ODHS in collaboration with educators and youth.
OHA Youth Sexual Health provides youth sexual health resources, data, programs, and statewide strategies that support healthy relationships, informed decision-making, and positive sexual health outcomes for Oregon youth.
OHA Student Health Survey (SHS) is a state-wide data system for collecting information from Oregon youth about their health and health behaviors. The SHS is a comprehensive, school-based, anonymous, and voluntary survey administered to students in 6th, 8th, and 11th grades across Oregon.
OHSU Sexual Health Education and Trainings provides specialized sexual health education, relationship skills training, and professional development programs that promote healthy sexuality and self-determination for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and those who support them.
Center for Childhood Safety and Wellbeing provides research, training, prevention strategies, and community partnerships that help educators and communities prevent child abuse, promote child safety, and support the well-being of children and youth.
National Sexuality Education Standards provides a national framework for the essential knowledge and skills students need to build healthy relationships, navigate sexual development, and make informed decisions throughout life.
National Teacher Preparation Standards for Sex Education outlines the knowledge, skills, and best practices educators need to effectively deliver high-quality, inclusive sexuality education.

The 2021 Menstrual Dignity Act (ORS 327.008) created the requirement for school districts to provide free menstrual products for all menstruating students in public schools in Oregon, including elementary, middle and high school students. The information below will support the implementation of the Menstrual Dignity for Students Program, as outlined in OARs 581-21-0587 through 581-021-0596.

Menstrual Dignity for Students Toolkit (Updated June, 2025)
This toolkit outlines requirements and recommendations for program implementation that hold student equity and menstrual dignity at the center so that all students have the opportunity for safe, dignified self-care.
ODE Menstrual Dignity One-Pager
Menstrual Dignity Program: Funding Calculator (2025-27) Please review the calculator to learn about district, charter school, and ESD funding for the Menstrual Dignity Program. Within the funding calculator, you should see each district, charter school and ESD’s individual total grant amount. Allocation ceilings for individual education providers is based on data from the prior year second period cumulative ADM. Reimbursements will be accepted on a rolling basis up to this grant amount throughout the biennium. Funds must be spent between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2027. A reimbursement form is required to claim funds in EGMS. The last day to claim funds is August 14, 2027.
Menstrual Dignity Program & Grant FAQ (June 2026) This document provides answers to common questions regarding the menstrual dignity program and grants.
April 2022 Menstrual Dignity Program Update This bulletin provides important updates to the Menstrual Dignity Program as a result of the 2022 Legislative Session.

Please reach out to ODE.Menstrual-Dignity@ode.oregon.gov if you have any questions.

Sign up for the Menstrual Dignity for Students Listserv to stay up-to-date with all things related to the Menstrual Dignity for Students Program.

ODE offers an in-person K-12 professional development course for educators to deliver comprehensive sexuality education as part of health instruction, focusing on healthy relationships, social emotional learning, child abuse prevention education, and healthy sexuality throughout the lifespan. These requirements, articulated by Oregon Department of Education's rules and standards, follow the most current research, leading national medical institutions, and Oregon Law. The course will introduce participants to core knowledge and skills required for teaching sexuality education, including how to answer difficult questions, how to use curriculum, and how to create inclusive learning environments for all students. Workshops are delivered in partnership with DHS, OHA, and other local partners.

Request an Sex Ed Professional Learning for your ESD or region here.

Subscribe to the ODE Sexuality Education Newsletter to stay up-to-date with opportunities and resources from ODE.

Sign up for the Menstrual Dignity for Students Listserv to stay up-to-date with all things related to the Menstrual Dignity for Students Program.

You may update your ODE Newsletter subscriptions by selecting “Subscriber Preference.”

View Archived ODE Sex Ed Newsletters here.

Contact Us

For questions about Comprehensive Sexuality Education, please contact us at ODE.SexEd@ode.oregon.gov.

Comprehensive Sexuality Education

Announcements

Oregon Content Standards, Guidance & Resources

Stand​​a​r​ds​​​

​Guidance & Re​sou​rces

Key Resources