The conversation around sexual health education has changed. Sexual health education in public schools was once viewed as contentious by policy makers who saw the issue as a political minefield as it implicated religion, morality, and sexuality—all deeply personal and controversial topics. However, policy makers are starting to understand the benefits of a well-structured sexual health education system as evidence consistently shows that comprehensive sexual health education benefits the lives of students and is an important arrow in the quiver of public health initiatives in Minnesota.

Minnesota policy makers are starting to take note of the importance of sexual health education in Minnesota’s curriculum. During the 2019 legislative session, State Representative Todd Lippert authored a bill that required the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) to develop, and help school districts implement as statewide curricula, a comprehensive sexual health education plan for public schools in Minnesota. While this bill ultimately failed, the conversation around sexual health education surely did not end. As Minnesota and other states start to fully understand the impact sexual health education can have on children, the role of schools and even the economy, the question remains: how can Minnesota best structure its sexual health education system in order to avoid inadequate and inconsistent public health results?

While mandating comprehensive sexual health education in schools has become a popular solution for many states, Minnesota has not yet followed suit. There are barriers to passing a bill mandating comprehensive sexual health education in Minnesota schools, but a need for this type of education continues to exist. Fully educating Minnesota students about the impact that sexual health has on themselves and their communities is more important than it ever has been. While Minnesota must overcome political, religious, and administrative barriers in order to mandate comprehensive sexual health education in schools, if Minnesota policy makers learn from past mistakes, they are well equipped to do so.