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The County of Union School District 43, which teaches 356 students, reported it has opted out of teaching the new curriculum, which includes lessons about masturbation starting in Grade 3.
There were three school districts which did not reply to a query about if it would opt out of teaching the curriculum or said it would wait to make a decision.
The curriculum was criticized by Republicans as “outrageous” and “perverted” while advocates claimed it would safely teach students about things they’re already learning on the internet.
Out of Illinois’ 852 school districts, 520 have opted out of teaching the lessons, leaving students with no sex education lessons at all.
School districts can’t normally opt out of teaching part of a curriculum. However, the sex education bill signed by the Illinois governor included the opportunity for school districts to opt out of teaching the curriculum if they were opposed to the teaching. Some school districts have opted out of teaching the curriculum for certain grades.
Individual school data was gathered by grassroots organization Awake, IL.
| School District | Number of Students | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Anna Community Consolidated School District 37 | 615 | No Response |
| Anna Jonesboro Community High School District 81 | 508 | Opting Out |
| Cobden School Unit District 17 | 480 | Opting Out |
| County of Union School District 43 | 356 | Opting Out |
| Dongola Unit School District 66 | 262 | No Response |
| Lick Creek Community Consolidated School District 16 | 131 | Opting Out |
| Shawnee Community Unit School District 84 | 284 | No Response |
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