Improving Sexuality Education: The Development of Teacher-Preparation Standards

• Published in: The Journal of school health 2014-06, Vol.84 (6), p.396-415
• Main Authors: Barr, Elissa M., Goldfarb, Eva S., Russell, Susan, Seabert, Denise, Wallen, Michele, Wilson, Kelly L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Academic Standards; adolescent sexual health; Biological and medical sciences; Education; Educational Improvement; Educational Indicators; Evaluation; Faculty - standards; Female; Guidelines as Topic; Health aspects; Health Education; Health Policy; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Inservice Training - methods; Inservice Training - organization & administration; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; National Sexuality Education Standards; Nursing; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Unplanned; Prevention and actions; Professional Competence - standards; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Public support; School Health Services; Schools; Sex (Psychology); Sex Education; Sex Education - methods; Sex Education - standards; Sexual Abstinence; Sexual Behavior; Sexuality; sexuality education; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - prevention & control; Standard Setting; Teacher centers; Teacher centres; Teacher Competencies; Teacher education; Teacher Education Programs; Teachers; Teaching; Teaching methods; Teenagers; Training; United States; Young adults; Young people; Youth
• ISSN: 0022-4391; 1746-1561
• DOI: 10.1111/josh.12156

ABSTRACT BACKGROUNDTeaching sexuality education to support young people's sexual development and overall sexual health is both needed and supported. Data continue to highlight the high rates of teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted disease, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections, among young people in the United States as well as the overwhelming public support for sexuality education instruction. In support of the implementation of the National Sexuality Education Standards, the current effort focuses on better preparing teachers to deliver sexuality education. METHODSAn expert panel was convened by the Future of Sex Education Initiative to develop teacher‐preparation standards for sexuality education. Their task was to develop standards and indicators that addressed the unique elements intrinsic to sexuality education instruction. RESULTSSeven standards and associated indicators were developed that address professional disposition, diversity and equity, content knowledge, legal and professional ethics, planning, implementation, and assessment. CONCLUSIONSThe National Teacher‐Preparation Standards for Sexuality Education represent an unprecedented unified effort to enable prospective health education teachers to become competent in teaching methodology, theory, practice of pedagogy, content, and skills, specific to sexuality education. Higher education will play a key role in ensuring the success of these standards.