Analysis of State Health Education Laws
Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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 nationwide. 

Tennessee 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.

Tennessee Law Facts
* The State Education Agency and 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 sexual health education instruction. 
* Instruction regarding contraception is required for sexual health education.
* Abstinence is a required topic of instruction for sexual health education and HIV Prevention.
Core Topics Addressed in Tennessee Law
Topic of Instruction (Level of Requirement)
* Sexual Health Education (Permitted)
* HIV Prevention (Permitted*)
* STD Prevention (No Law or Regulation)
*Certain curriculum elements are required if instruction provided.
Presence of Evidence Based Components
Common Attributes of Effective School-Based Sexual Health Education
* Curriculum is delivered by trained instructors (Required) Sexual Health Education
* Parental/Stakeholder Involvement. Parents and/or other key stakeholders are involved in the review, development, and/or approval of curriculum (Required) Sexual Health Education
* Curriculum Follows Federal or National Standards, Guidelines, and/or Recommendations (Not included in laws)
* Curriculum is appropriate for age or developmental stage (Required) Sexual Health Education
* Curriculum is medically accurate (Required) Sexual Health Education
* Instruction is sequential across grade levels (Not included in laws)
* Curriculum includes instruction on strategies or skills (Required) Sexual Health Education


School Health Policies and Practices in Tennessee
78% 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 Tennessee in which teachers tried to increase student knowledge on...
61% Human Sexuality 
68% HIV Prevention
66% 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 High School Students Nationwide
12% Have had sexual intercourse with 4 or more partners
21% Drank alcohol or used drugs before last sexual intercourse*
57% Used a condom during last sexual intercourse*

In a classroom of 30 high school students nationwide,
9 are currently sexually active,
3 ever had sex, but are not currently sexually active,
18 never had sex.
*Among the students nationally who were currently sexually active (had sexual intercourse during the 3 months before the survey).
?Tennessee participated but did not ask the selected questions from the 2015 YRBS.

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