Sex education in Connecticut high schools: Teachers' reports of content and importance ratings according to the SIECUS Guidelines

The purpose of this study was to examine Connecticut teachers' reports of the sex education content taught to high school students as well as teachers' reports of the degree of importance for Connecticut high school students to understand according to the SIECUS Guidelines. The data revealed that participants (N=125) reported teaching 72% of the sex education topics as defined by the SIECUS Guidelines. Despite public health statistics showing increasing teen sexual activity among Connecticut high school students (DPH, 2009), sexual behavior topics (sexuality throughout life; shared sexual behavior; sexual fantasy; sexual dysfunction; masturbation; and human sexual response) were reported by participants as the least frequently taught. Teachers' reports of importance revealed that 97% of the sex education content statements as defined by the SIECUS Guidelines were extremely important or moderately important for Connecticut high school students to understand.