Parents' Rights

Illinois is the only state in the United States that has adopted the extreme National Sex Education Standards (NSES). Out of 861 districts, we are only the 25th district to adopt the standards. While the NSES curriculum will be taught in Kindergarten through 12 grade in districts that adopted the NSES, D211 will complete all requirements by 10th grade.

Adopting NSES was recommended by Superintendent Lisa Small, and it was provided to the D211 Board just days prior to vote, without prior discussion or seeing any curriculum or books. We do not oppose teaching basic sex ed, but that is not what the NSES is about.

Two topics being added to the D211 current curriculum are "gender identity and expression" and "sexual orientation and identity". By the end of the 10th grade, in D211, students should be able to: 

•  Define vaginal, oral, and anal sex (SH.8.CC.1) 
• Demonstrate the steps to using barrier methods correctly (e.g., external and internal condoms, dental dams) (SH.10.SM.1)
• Differentiate between sex assigned at birth, gender identity, and gender expression (GI.10.CC.1)
• Differentiate between sexual orientation, sexual behavior, and sexual identity  (SO.10.CC.1) 
• Describe the impact of racism and inequality on sexual health (SH.10.INF.1)
• Analyze state and federal laws and guidelines (e.g., CDC) that address sexual healthcare services for minors (e.g., contraception, emergency contraception, prenatal care, adoption, abortion, STD, including HIV, prevention, testing, and treatment) (SH.10.INF.2)
• Define reproductive justice and explain its history and how it relates to sexual health  (SH.10.CC.6) 
• Identify factors that impact the risk of unintended pregnancy and potential transmission of STDs, including HIV, from a variety of sexual behaviors, including vaginal, oral, and anal sex (SH.10.CC.2)
• Describe effective ways to communicate consent, personal boundaries, and desires as they relate to intimacy, pleasure, and sexual behavior (CHR.10.IC.1) 
• Describe the human sexual response cycle, including the role of hormones and pleasure (AP.12.CC.1) 
• Describe the potential impacts of power and privilege within romantic or sexual relationships (e.g., age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, socioeconomic status, immigration status, ability) (CHR.12.INF.3)
• Analyze factors that can influence condom use and other safer sex decisions (e.g., availability, affordability, perception of risk, pleasure) (SH.12.INF.2)
• Analyze how peers, family, media, society, culture, and a person’s intersecting identities can influence attitudes and beliefs about interpersonal and sexual violence (IV.12.INF.1)   

On 11/10/22, the D211 Board majority adopted the NSES as the new comprehensive 

sex ed curriculum starting in 04/23. It was passed 5-2, despite 90% parental opposition from the community. 

Board Members who voted YES to adopt the NSES:

Anna Klimkowicz

Steven Rosenblum 

Kimberly Cavill 

Curtis Bradley

Tim McGowan

Board Members who voted NO:

Peter Dombrowski

Mark Cramer 

Illinois Federation of Teachers Union (IFT) signed a proponent witness slip for Senate Amendment 1 to HB5188. 

This amendment would bypass the approval of local school boards and parents and have full control of what your child is being taught. That is why they are in support of a state law that would eliminate local decision making in regards to the extreme sex ed curriculum. 

Parents, not agenda-driven teachers' unions, deserve a say in what is appropriate or not appropriate for their young children to be taught.