House Bill 999 (HB 999) mandated that all public school districts adopt a sexuality education policy starting the 2012-2013 school year.CHART is one of the policies that school districts can adopt to be in compliance with HB 999. Today, 28 school districts across Mississippi have adopted CHART. As we reflect on our work with CHART over the last three years, we discovered two obstacles that greatly impact the ability of school districts to implement sex education across our state.
Mississippi First Launches Mississippi Youth Council, Calls for Applicants
Mississippi First is proud to announce the launch of the Mississippi Youth Council (MYCouncil). Members of MYCouncil take a grassroots approach to comprehensive sexuality education and other related sexual and reproductive health issues by mobilizing communities to speak out and get involved in an issue that is extremely important to young people today.
The Truth about Peppermint Pattie: The Real Story of Sex Ed in Mississippi
Dear Slate, Cosmopolitan, Wonkette, Salon, and others interested in the “Peppermint Pattie” story:
We appreciate your sudden interest in our fight here in Mississippi to ensure that children get medically accurate, evidence-based, and age-appropriate sex education in their public schools. We are writing to tell you that facts matter, whether in a sex education curriculum or in a national news item.
SIECUS Releases New Sex Education Report about Mississippi
aJACKSON, MS—SIECUS (Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States) announces the release of their new report titled, Sexuality in Education in Mississippi: Progress in the Magnolia State. The report highlights the work in Mississippi after the passage of House Bill 999 during the 2011 state legislative session.
MSF Hires New Teen Health Policy Coordinator, Josh McCawley
Mississippi First has hired Josh McCawley as our Teen Health Policy Coordinator. Josh will provide issue education and advocacy for local and state-level policies related to teen sexual health.