In the state of Texas sexual education is not mandated in public school systems, furthermore if a school district wants to implement sexual education parent approval (opt-in) is required (Holt et al., 2025). Texas requires that if a school offers sexual education, that they prioritize abstinence in the curriculum (Holt et al., 2025). This petition aims to combat teenage pregnancy rates by adopting a structured curriculum surrounding safe sexual education.

While abstinence may be the most effective method in avoiding teen pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), statistics show that 43% of teenagers have participated in sexual activity (Holt et al., 2025). To follow this statistic, it is important to note that safe sexual education is not provided in Texas schools and of the teens who reported having sex 50% admitted to not using condoms while engaging in sexual activities (Holt et al., 2025). Texas teen mother birth rates are higher than the national average (Healthy Future of Texas, 2025). Texas is eighth in the nation for highest teen pregnancy, a baby is born to a teen mother every 25 minutes (HFTX, 2025). Texas leads the nation in repeat births among teens (HFTX. 2025). 

In 1991 California implemented safe sex education throughout their public-school systems, this change led to teen birth rates dropping by 50% (Hernandez et al., 2011). This study shows direct correlations between safe sex education and declines in teen pregnancy. A study interviewed 19 parents who had children ages 13-19, and while most believed sexual education should start at home, many parents admitted they had not started communicating with their teens about sex (Koren, 2019). Parents admitted they believed their teen learned most of their sexual education from online (Koren, 2019). Most parents also agreed they too needed education on safe sex in order to communicate with their teen effectively (Koren, 2019). 

This petition would help bring awareness to Texas politicians to show a need for change when it comes to sexual education in school settings. The inclusion of safe sexual education in school curriculum will alleviate the teenage birth rates, STI rates, and unsafe practices among Texas teens. Please sign this petition in order to bring awareness to this often-overlooked issue in the public school system.

References

Healthy Futures of Texas. (2025). Teen birth rate data. https://hftx.org/resources/teen-birth-in-texas/

Hernandez, B. F., Peskin, M., Shegog, R., Markham, C., Johnson, K., Ratliff, E. A., Li, D. H., Weerasinghe, I. S., Cuccaro, P. M., & Tortolero, S. R. (2011). Choosing and maintaining programs for sex education in schools: The CHAMPSS model. The Journal of Applied Research on Children, 2(2)10.58464/2155-5834.1047

Holt, L., Janek, S., & Yamey, G. (2025). Barriers and facilitators to implementing comprehensive sex education in Texas public schools: A qualitative study. PloS One, 20(1), e0316329. 10.1371/journal.pone.0316329

Koren, A. (2019). Reproductive health for teens: Parents want in too. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 45(5), 406–413. 10.1080/0092623X.2018.1549635