Ohio's public schools received a failing grade for their sex education policy for the second consecutive year, according to the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS). The national organization, which advocates for comprehensive, medically accurate, and inclusive sex education, assigned Ohio an "F" in its latest report card.
This grade reflects Ohio's policy across two key categories, with the state earning a "D" on the "Sex Ed Requirement" and an "F" on the "Sex Ed Content Requirement." Kellie Copeland, Executive Director of Abortion Forward, stated it was "deeply concerning" that a crucial part of preparing students for life was "so poorly managed." She added that the goal should be to help students make informed decisions about their bodies and lives, which she believes the Ohio curriculum does not achieve. Callie Simon, SIECUS Executive Director, noted that political considerations are increasingly influencing what young people learn about their bodies, impacting their long-term health, safety, and wellbeing.
Ohio is not alone in its low ranking; nine other states, including Indiana, Arizona, and Mississippi, also received an "F" from SIECUS. In contrast, states like California, Illinois, and Washington each earned an "A" on the report card. Research supports the benefits of comprehensive sex education, with a 2021 report from the Journal of Adolescent Health reviewing three decades of research and finding strong support for it. Copeland highlighted that scientifically accurate, age-appropriate curricula that address the emotional, physical, and social aspects of sexuality help young people understand their bodies better and develop healthy relationships.
Under Ohio Revised Code, the state's curriculum primarily stresses abstinence as a general policy. It mandates some instruction about sexually transmitted infections (STIs). State law also requires schools to "emphasize adoption as an option to unintended pregnancies" and to teach the "potential physical, psychological, emotional, and social side effects" of sex outside of marriage.
Curriculum requirements in Ohio are determined by state lawmakers, which means the State Board of Education does not have the authority to set health education standards. Consequently, without comprehensive state-mandated sex education, individual school districts are left to decide how they will teach the subject. The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW) is tasked with conducting an annual audit to ensure that school districts comply with existing state law.
For the 2024-25 audit, all but two school districts in Ohio were found to be compliant with the state's sex education requirements. Jefferson Township Local School District in Montgomery County and Ridgewood Local School District in Coshocton County were identified as non-compliant. Both districts had also been non-compliant in the previous 2023-24 audit.
Ridgewood Local School District explained its position in the ODEW audit, stating that many family structures exist today that can provide loving and supportive environments for children. The district noted its own staff and students come from diverse family backgrounds, including single-parent, same-sex, and traditional married-couple families. Ridgewood emphasized the importance of recognizing and respecting all family types and asserted that sex education should not be used to shame students for their family background.
Jefferson Township's district attributed its non-compliance regarding sexually transmitted infection education to unexpected staff changes. The district reported the resignation of its Jr./Sr. High School principal on February 21, who was responsible for arranging the STI education. An interim principal was unable to restart arrangements, and the district also lost its Physical Education teacher. A new staff member certified in Health and Physical Education has since been hired and will be responsible for scheduling the STI education during the 2025-2026 school year.
Ohio currently has a higher teen birth rate compared to the national average. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the national birth rate for females aged 15-19 years was 12.6 per 1,000 females in 2024, while Ohio's teen birth rate stood at 14.0 per 1,000 females.
In related legislative efforts, Ohio lawmakers passed a bill over the summer that will soon require schools to teach students a "success sequence" — to graduate high school, get a job, and get married, in that order, before having a baby. This new law is set to take effect on October 6. Additionally, Ohio House Bill 485, known as the "Enact Baby Olivia Act," would mandate schools to show either the 'Baby Olivia' video or a similar video to students annually from fifth through twelfth grade, beginning with the 2026-27 school year. State Representative Melanie Miller, a Republican from Ashland, introduced the bill, which has passed the Ohio House and undergone two hearings in the Ohio Senate Education Committee. Ohio lawmakers are currently on break and will return after the November election; any bill not passed by the end of the two-year General Assembly in December would require reintroduction.
Locally, the Ohio Center for Sex Education, the education arm of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, offers comprehensive sex education to schools and community organizations. Jes Fuller, director of the center, explained that their "Get Real" curriculum for middle and high schools focuses significantly on social and emotional learning. This includes discussions on STIs, birth control, and pregnancy prevention, but also aims to equip young people with proper communication skills, foster healthy relationships, and promote understanding of consent and gender in an affirming way. Fuller emphasized that comprehensive sexual education is developmentally appropriate and provides young people with crucial information for their future.