HF2338: Gender Theory and Sexual Orientation Instruction

Prohibits school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools from providing any program, curriculum, test, survey, questionnaire, promotion, or instruction relating to gender theory or sexual orientation to students in kindergarten through grade 12. Previously, this prohibition applied only to students in kindergarten through grade 6. 

Key Points & Impact:

• Expands the prohibition on instruction, programs, or surveys related to gender theory or sexual orientation from grades K-6 to K-12 in all public, charter, and innovation zone schools.

• Amends curriculum requirements so that human growth and development instruction in grades 7-12 must comply with the prohibition on gender theory and sexual orientation content.

• Clarifies that any health education unit content options (e.g., personal health, nutrition, substance use, emotional health) must exclude gender theory and sexual orientation topics in grades K-12.

• Updates references and compliance requirements in statutes governing charter and innovation zone schools to align with the expanded prohibition.

• Requires all human growth and development instruction (including that on human sexuality, self-esteem, stress management, interpersonal relationships, and domestic abuse) for grades 7-12 to be subject to the new law.

• Replaces previous language referring to grades K-6 with grades K-12 in all relevant code sections.

• Ensures that the new restrictions apply equally across traditional public schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools.

• Does not alter the requirement for age-appropriate and research-based health education, but subjects it to the new prohibitions.