Analysis of State Health Education Laws
Pennsylvania Summary Report
Overview
State laws and regulations in health education serve as a foundation to drive school-based programs and instruction. Well-designed and well-implemented sexual health education programs have been shown to reduce student risky sexual behaviors and improve health-related behaviors and outcomes. The following report provides a snapshot of Pennsylvania laws and regulations and school health policies and practices related to sexual health education, HIV prevention education, STD prevention education, and sexual health risk behaviors among high school students Pennsylvania. 

Pennsylvania health education laws and regulations were analyzed across three topics of instruction (sexual health education, HIV Prevention, and STD Prevention) and a variety of characteristics related to curriculum and instruction. These characteristics were identified by researchers as potential facilitators for successful programs. The law and regulation data presented only indicate the presence or absence of a particular component related to health education and may not accurately reflect practice within the state.

Pennsylvania Law Facts
* Local Education Agencies have the authority to choose or approve curriculum for HIV Prevention instruction.
* Parents/Guardians must be provided the opportunity to Opt-out students from HIV Prevention instruction. 
* Instruction regarding contraception is not addressed.
* Abstinence is a required topic of instruction for HIV Prevention.
Core Topics Addressed in Pennsylvania Law
Topic of Instruction (Level of Requirement)
* Sexual Health Education (No Law or Regulation)
* HIV Prevention (Required)
* STD Prevention (No Law or Regulation)
Presence of Evidence Based Components
Common Attributes of Effective School-Based Sexual Health Education
* Curriculum is delivered by trained instructors (Not included in laws)
* Parental/Stakeholder Involvement. Parents and/or other key stakeholders are involved in the review, development, and/or approval of curriculum (Required) HIV Prevention 
* Curriculum Follows Federal or National Standards, Guidelines, and/or Recommendations (Not included in laws)
* Curriculum is appropriate for age or developmental stage (Required) HIV Prevention
* Curriculum is medically accurate (Not included in laws)
* Instruction is sequential across grade levels (Not included in laws)
* Curriculum includes instruction on strategies or skills (Not included in laws)


School Health Policies and Practices in Pennsylvania
74% of secondary schools provided those who teach sexual health education with strategies that are age-appropriate, relevant, and actively engage students in learning
94% of secondary schools taught how HIV and other STDs are transmitted in a required course during grades 9, 10, 11, or 12

Percent of secondary schools in Pennsylvania in which teachers tried to increase student knowledge on...
82% Human Sexuality 
85% HIV Prevention
84% STD Prevention 
Source: School Health Profiles (Profiles), 2016. Profiles is a national survey of middle and high school principals and lead health education teachers assessing school health policies and practices in states, large urban school districts, and territories.

Risk Behaviors Among Pennsylvania High School Students
10% Have had sexual intercourse with 4 or more partners
19% Drank alcohol or used drugs before last sexual intercourse*
63% Used a condom during last sexual intercourse*

In a classroom of 30 high school students in Pennsylvania,
8 are currently sexually active,
3 ever had sex, but are not currently sexually active,
19 never had sex.
*Among the students in Pennsylvania who were currently sexually active (had sexual intercourse during the 3 months before the survey).
Source: National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2015.
Know Your State Laws and Policies
For more information on: State laws and practices; Attributes of an effective sexual health education program; and State specific health data, visit www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/about/policy.htm