Radical LGBT and Abortion Sex-Ed Textbooks Rejected by State Board of Education

Today, the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE), an elected 15-member body, met and took a final vote on the health instructional materials and textbooks that will be recommended to public school districts in the State of Texas.

The Texas Values policy team testified in front of the SBOE in opposition to radical sex education and abortion being taught to public school students. We also offered common-sense edits to more closely align with the statewide standards which require abstinence and to make the textbooks more appropriate for students.

The SBOE voted to adopt one textbook, Goodheart Willcox, by a vote of 10-3, which covers middle school and high school students. The SBOE did not adopt the remaining materials up for consideration.

In particular, the Lessonbee and Human Kinetics materials and textbooks faced major criticism by parents and board members for graphic and highly controversial content discussing LGBT issues, abortion and at least one scenario that specifically described a sexual encounter between children. Both of these textbooks also advocated for drug-based sex education by including favorable references to PrEP and PEP HIV medication.You can read more egregious textbook examples here.

Many parents testified on Tuesday in public testimony, urging the board to reject textbooks that encouraged middle school and high school students to engage in sexual activity in favor of a focus on abstinence-only materials. Earlier this year the Texas Legislature amended a school finance bill, HB 1525, to require school districts to get parents or guardians' permission before teaching their children sex education (opt-in).

Because of your voice, the Goodheart Willcox textbook was modified throughout the week, which benefited parental rights and abstinence-focused education.

Texas Values has been involved in the health education process at the SBOE since 2019.

Thank you again for making a difference.