YWU’s Circle of Strength just finished their two year Sex Ed Survey/Report Card campaign this February.  While there is still much work to be done, the Sex Ed Report Card is a great accomplishment.  We have decided to dedicate this e-news solely to the Sex Ed Report Card to honor COS’s work as well as share our results with those who were not at our Community Discussion.  In this e-news we included some of the results of the survey as well as a web adaptation of our Sex Ed Report Card pamphlet.  Please take a moment to go over the information and the work our teen women have done. We thank you for your past, present, and future support.

Dominique Pierson
Communications and Office Coordinator

P.S. Our Sex Ed Report Card got quite a bit of media.  To watch channel four’s coverage follow the link http://kob.com/article/stories/S808663.shtml.

Young Women United Sex ed Report Card

On Thursday, February 26, 2009 Circle of Strength held a community forum, providing information about Sex Ed in Albuquerque as well as revealed the results of YWU’s Sexuality Education Report Card. Our teenage women collected over 500 surveys from APS High school students from across the city.  The surveys voice the opinions of students by allowing them to evaluate the quality of sexuality education in their high schools. We decided to use a report card format since it’s a familiar method for feedback. The schools were evaluated not just on student’s personal opinions on the issue of Sex Ed, but by how knowledgeable their sex educator is on the topic and how well they were able to create a supportive and positive learning environment.

After working on this issue for over 6 years now, the teenage women of YWU are incresingly anxious to see the state standards and benchmarks implemented and their peers receiving this vital health information. We acknowledge that our data may not be fully representative of each school, based on the amount of surveys received.  However it does provide our community with an opportunity to hear what is happening in our high schools from a genuine youth perspective from over 500 youth in Albuquerque. Most importantly it has encouraged our community to get involved in assuring our State Standards and Benchmarks for health Education are SUCCESSFULLY implemented, routinely monitored and enforced!

Survey Findings

63% of students surveyed think we need more sex ed in schools.
90% of students surveyed support comprehensive sex education

Grading Guildlines

B = Adequate

• Majority of students reported learning at least 75% of standard content
  
• 75% of students felt that their teacher was both knowledgeable and comfortable teaching the subject
  
• 75% or more students felt that their school offered good sex education
  
• Schools that met 2 out of the 3 above categories received a B
  
• 4 out of 12 APS schools received a B, Albuquerque High, Highland, El Dorado, and New Futures.

"My teacher was very comfortable and open when she presented the information, and I think that made the class relax.”- El Dorado student

“I thought it was good that the teacher provided an opportunity to write questions on a slip of paper, placed them in a hat, and had them anonymously drawn out and answered. That way we could be totally comfortable w/asking a question “– El Dorado student

“Our teacher was very educated on sex and everything that follows. He made it very clear on the subject” – Student from Highland

C= Fair

• Schools that received a C, received reports that were between 75%- 50% in 2 or more of the 3 categories
• 3 out of 12 APS high schools received a C, Rio Grande, Manzano, and Del Norte.

“it was taught from the book by a basketball coach. he didn't care, was just teaching the week of it. we didn't do much work. “– Student from Rio Grande

“I've mostly learned about sex on the streets.”- Student from Rio Grande

D= Poor

• Majority of students reported learning 50% or lower of the Standards content
• 50% or lower felt their teacher was knowledgeable and comfortable teaching the subject
• 50% or lower felt their school offers good sex ed
• Schools that met 2 of the 3 above categories received a D
• 5 out of 12 APS high schools received a D, Valley, Sandia, Volcano Vista, and West Mesa.

“Stop teaching religion”- Sandia student

“It is usually very one-sided-abstinence only.”- Sandia student 

“My teacher wasn't comfortable talking about this stuff.”- Valley student

Recommendations

• Better utilize and find ways to enforce existing programs such as: School Health Advisory Councils, Healthy Schools Report Card, AIMS, etc.
• Require each school host a parent night, to ensure more Student & parent involvement
• We must educate all teachers, principals, & school board members on NM health Standards & Benchmarks. Create a pamphlet / information  to be distributed in all schools.
• Learn from what other states and districts have done to implement such policies.
• Increase the support for School Based Health Centers
• Utilize / provide access to community resources available for Sex Ed.

The following commitments / recommendations were developed by attending participants:

• Present survey results and recommendations at APS school board meeting
• Start organizing more media coverage around this issue. PBS, get this topic on local TV shows
  
• Call on members of congress & tell them to end funding for ab only.

What you can do to help is.....

• Parents- Talk to your children!! Educate yourself. Get involved in your child’s school. Find out what they are learning in class!
• Students- Get involved!! Use your voice! Find out if your school has a wellness team or SHAC, if not you can start one.
• Community members-  Learn what your local school offers in sex ed, Elect school board members who support responsible sexuality ed. Tell the governor and elected officials that New Mexico youth deserve responsible sexuality education.

We are excitedly strategizing next steps. We will keep the community informed! If you have any questions, ideas, suggestions please hit us up at YWU at 505.831.8930 or amayahuel@hotmail.com.

YWU's Sex Ed Campaign Timeline -

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2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

This is what APS High school Students have told Us: (taken directly from the survey)

“Way too many girls have dropped out just in my class because they’ve become pregnant.”

“I have been taking sex, puberty, and anti-molestation classes since the 5th grade. None have been fully comprehensive on both the physical and social aspects of sex. Only one class I had, health (gifted), felt comfortable completely and I learned a lot.”

“I think we’d have less teen pregnancies if everyone at any school (grade depends) was completely educated about sex.”

“Our school needs teachers to teach us that sex is not bad and disgusting, but something that everyone does at one point. They need to give us more information on ways to protect ourselves from pregnancy and disease. Because telling us not to do it isn’t going to stop us.”

We acknowledge that abstinence is the only 100% way to protect yourself against unintended pregnancy and STD’s. However, since about 2/3 of teens become sexually active before leaving high school, it is also necessary that we address their need for accurate information about sexual health. Even teenagers who are not currently sexually active need information about methods of pregnancy prevention and STD’s in order to be prepared when they do make that choice.

We have Created the Sexuality Education Report Card to keep APS accountable to New Mexico State Public Education Department Standards and Bench Marks for Sexuality Education.

New Mexico PED Health Education Content Standards for Excellence

• Students will comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention.
  
• Students will demonstrate the ability toaccess valid health information and health-promoting products and services.
  
• Students will demonstrate the ability to practice health-enhancing behaviors and reduce health risks.
  
• Students will analyze the influence of culture, media, technology, and other factors on health.
  
• Students will demonstrate the ability to use interpersonal communication skills to enhance health.
  
• Students will demonstrate the ability to use goal setting and decision-making skills to enhance health.
  
• Students will demonstrate the ability to advocate for personal, family, peer, and community health.

Five High School PED Performance Standards Requiring Comprehensive Sex Education

• Identify alternatives to health risk behaviors in the areas related to sexuality… (i.e., abstinence, condom use, other pregnancy prevention methods.)
  Standard 1, Benchmark 1
  
• Understand the concept of sexually transmitted infections and recognize prevention strategies including abstinence, the proper use of condoms and immunizations.
  Standard 2, Benchmark 6
  
• Demonstrate skills to avoid risky and/or harmful behaviors in relationships (i.e., abstinence or birth control methods to avoid teen pregnancy…)
  Standard 3, Benchmark 3
  
• Explain positive and negative health messages from media and other sources in the areas related to sexuality… (i.e., condom use vs. unprotected sex…)
  Standard 4, Benchmark 2
  
• Predict how specific decisions result in various consequences in the areas related to sexuality… (i.e., the decision to use a condom if sexually active will help prevent an unwanted pregnancy or sexually transmitted infection)
  Standard 6, Benchmark 3