Illinois requires HIV prevention education for grades 6-12. Lessons must promote heterosexual marriage and emphasize that abstinence until marriage is the “expected norm,” even though over half of high school students in Illinois report already having had sex.

Illinois is the only state in which HIV positive high school students must notify their principal, who can then share the information with other school personnel as he or she sees fit. There is no medical reason for principals to be notified of a student’s HIV status; and HIV-positive students whose status is made public face stigma and discrimination from students and school personnel alike. An attempt to repeal this law failed in 2008. Get the facts about the reproductive and sexual health of Illinois' young people; and learn more about failed Illinois Abstinence-Only Programs.

Sex Education Policy

Illinois does not require sex education for students. If sex ed is taught, it must stress abstinence, while no requirements are made for providing information about condoms and contraception. Illinois does require instruction on the prevention and transmission of AIDS.

Health Outcomes

Illinois' teen pregnancy and teen birth rates are close to the national average, and the state has a lower AIDS rate than the nation and better than average rates for condom use among high school students.  The state's STI rate is higher 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

• ACLU of Illinois
• Chicago Foundation for Women
• The Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health (ICAH)