When districts choose to teach sex education, Oregon’s requirements for its content are among the most progressive in the nation. Lessons must provide information about abstinence as well as condoms and contraception, and the policy mandates respect both for abstinent students and for those who are sexually active.

Sex Education Policy

Oregon does require comprehensive sexuality education for all k-12 students. Oregon requires that it be comprehensive, providing information about both abstinence and contraception. In addition Oregon requires HIV education for all k-12 students. The Oregon statutes governing sex education are Oregon Statutes 336.455, and Oregon Administrative Rules 581-022-1210 and 581-022-1440, Revised December 9, 2009: Infectious Diseases Including Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and Hepatitis B and C. Oregon Revised Statutes

Oregon's teen pregnancy rate is lower than the national rate,  while AIDS and STI rates are better than 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

• Cascade AIDS
• Planned Parenthood Health Services of Southwestern Oregon