New York doesn’t require comprehensive sex education in public schools, even though 44 percent of high school students in New York report ever having had sex. The Healthy Teens Act, which would create funding for comprehensive sexuality education in public schools, has passed the New York State Assembly for four years in a row, but has yet to be approved by the New York Senate.

Sex Education Policy

New York has no law that mandates sex education or regulates its content if taught – it has not taken the necessary action to guarantee complete, comprehensive sex ed for its students. However, New York does require that students be taught about HIV as part of health classes. Sex education policy is governed by New York Commissioner’s Regulations 135.3 and Learning Standards for Health, Physical Education, and Family and Consumer Sciences.

Health Outcomes

New York has a higher than average teen pregnancy rate and the fourth highest AIDS rate of any state.  STI  and condom use rates among high school students are better than the national average.

*Per 1000 young women ages 15-19
+Because of concern over recent changes in Chlamydia reporting and relative low incidence of syphilis, we used the state's gonorrhea rate as a stand-in for sexually transmitted infection rates.

Advocates' Partner Organizations

• Family Planning Advocates of New York State
• Love Heals
• Make the Road New York
• New York Civil Liberties Union
• Youth Empowerment Mission