Call to Action: Support for Health and Sex Education in Alaska

The Alaska State Capitol, with Mount Juneau in the background. Photo by Jay Galvin from Pleasanton, CA, USA - Alaska State Capitol Building

Update 03/02/23: Though the committee has now heard the bill, it is not too late to send them an email, especially including a thank you for hearing the bill, and urging them to pass it quickly.

Alaskans have a chance to pass legislation that would require public schools to provide health and sex education across our state. This would be a very good thing.

From Planned Parenthood Alaska:

Young people deserve age-appropriate, medically accurate information about sex, reproduction, and concepts like consent, respecting boundaries, and who to turn to for help.

However, many students in Alaska do not have access to the information and skills they need to protect their health and safety because public schools in Alaska are not required to provide comprehensive or medically accurate sexual health education.

Senate Bill (SB) 43 may be the solution. You may find the whole text here.

A snippet from the bill:

Sec. 14.30.360. Health and personal safety education curriculum; physical activity guidelines. (a) Each district in the state public school system shall provide [BE ENCOURAGED TO INITIATE AND CONDUCT] a program in health and personal safety education for kindergarten through grade 12. The program must [SHOULD] include instruction in physical health and personal safety, including alcohol and drug abuse education, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), early cancer prevention and detection, dental health, family health including infant care, environmental health, the identification and prevention of child abuse, child abduction, neglect, sexual abuse, and domestic violence, [AND] appropriate use of health services, and sexual health.

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How to support this bill (from Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates Alaska):

Testify: Wednesday, March 1st at 3:30pm in support of SB 43

How to testify at the hearing:

Call in five minutes before the hearing. If you need to call in late you’ll still be put in the queue to testify, so don’t give up if you can’t call in early.

a. Anchorage: (907)-563-9085,

b. Juneau: (907)-586-9085,

c. Fairbanks: (844)-586-9085, and

d. All other locations: (844)-586-9085.

Ask to be directed to the Senate Education Committee meeting to provide public testimony on SB 43.

Stay on the line, when it is time to testify they will call on you and unmute your line. Be sure to state your name, where you live, and that you support SB 43.

Unable to call in to testify (like me)? No problem — you can email committee members instead.

Email the Senate Education Committee at Senate.Education@akleg.gov, as well as the people who represent you directly. You can find your Representative and Senator by going to akleg.gov, scrolling to the bottom of the page, and entering your address under “Who Represents Me?” on the lower right side.

A quick sample letter I put together (what I’m emailing in to Senate.Education@akleg.gov and my representatives). Feel free to tweak and re-submit, or write your own. It does not have to be long!

Dear Legislators,

I am writing to express my support for SB 43 and comprehensive sex education in Alaskan public schools. Alaska has some of the highest rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), unintended pregnancies, and sexual violence in the nation. Comprehensive sex education is essential to address these issues and ensure that young people in Alaska have the knowledge and skills they need to make informed decisions about their sexual health.

Sex education can provide students with accurate information about the risks and benefits of sexual behaviors, as well as the different forms of contraception and STI prevention methods available. It can also teach students about the importance of consent, healthy relationships, and communication, which are essential skills for building healthy and fulfilling lives.

Comprehensive sex education can also have a positive impact on students' mental health, academic performance, and overall well-being. By reducing the stigma and shame surrounding sex and sexuality, sex education can promote body positivity and self-esteem. It can also reduce absenteeism due to unintended pregnancies or STIs, leading to better academic outcomes.

Moreover, comprehensive sex education can benefit the healthcare system as a whole by reducing healthcare costs associated with unintended pregnancies, STIs, and other health issues related to sexual activity. This can lead to significant cost savings for individuals, families, and the entire healthcare system.

It is crucial to ensure that all students in Alaska have access to comprehensive sex education that is evidence-based, inclusive of all genders and sexual orientations, and taught in a safe and supportive environment. By providing students with the knowledge and skills they need to make informed decisions about their sexual health, we can help to reduce the rates of STIs, unintended pregnancies, and sexual violence in our state.

I urge you to support SB 43 and sex education in public schools in Alaska. It is a critical component of a comprehensive education and an investment in the health and well-being of our young people.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Kuba Grzeda,

Fairbanks, Alaska

More details and resources about this Bill are available at this handy document from Planned Parenthood.

We don’t have much time: please take a few minutes to put together an email or testify over the phone.

Thanks to Planned Parenthood Alaska for sharing their resources (and many of their words). You may also follow them on Instagram here.