The Effects of Primary School Sex Education in Private and Charter Schools in the Los Angeles Area

Abstract Book of the 7th International Conference on Gender Studies and Sexuality

Year: 2026

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The Effects of Primary School Sex Education in Private and Charter Schools in the Los Angeles Area

Dr Justin Siu, Justin Siu, Dr. Alexis Kogan, Danielle Haase, Kendra Sobania, Emmalinda MacLean, Feliks Eskilson, Robin Darling

ABSTRACT:

The California Healthy Youth Act, enacted on January 1, 2016, mandates comprehensive sexual health education and HIV prevention once in middle school and once in high school1, but not in primary school. This study highlights the importance of establishing a formal, age-appropriate curriculum addressing self-image, consent, and bodily autonomy in primary school, in alignment with the National Sex Education Standards (NSES). This retrospective study analyzed pre-existing post-then-pre student surveys and qualitative teacher surveys collected by More Than Sex Ed (MTSE) during the 2024–2025 academic year, administered to all primary school classes participating in MTSE workshops across 11 charter and private schools in the Los Angeles area. Results demonstrated that the majority of students agreed or strongly agreed that MTSE’s discussion-based workshops positively impacted their sexual health knowledge and school culture. Teacher surveys corroborated these findings, noting increased student comfort, engagement, and curiosity as sessions progressed. Qualitative student feedback most frequently expressed discomfort with topics related to sexual health. These findings underscore the importance of initiating comprehensive sexual health education early, allowing students to grow through potentially uncomfortable but essential conversations about their bodies.

Keywords: Health education, Sex Education, Sexual Health, Primary School