Florida Schools Ordered to Cut Contraception and Consent from Sex Ed Curriculum, Pushes ‘Abstinence-Only’ Lessons

Florida schools have been instructed to exclude contraception, reproductive anatomy, and topics like sexual consent and domestic violence from their sex education curriculums. This directive, affecting districts like Orange and Broward counties, mandates an abstinence-only approach, forcing many to abandon their comprehensive plans.

Orange County Public Schools will now use a state-approved abstinence-focused textbook, dropping lessons that previously covered pregnancy, birth control methods, and consent. Broward County is also revising its curriculum to comply with the state’s abstinence-only guidelines.

Health experts, like University of North Florida’s Elissa Barr, criticize the changes, citing research that shows abstinence-only education is ineffective. Barr warns that omitting crucial information could leave students less informed and more vulnerable. The Florida Department of Education has yet to respond to concerns raised by districts and educators.