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The Benton Community Consolidated School District 47, which teaches 1,068 students, reported it has opted out of teaching the new curriculum, which includes lessons about masturbation starting in Grade 3.
There were one school district 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Benton Community Consolidated School District 47 | 1,068 | Opting Out |
| Benton Consolidated High School District 103 | 531 | Opting Out |
| Christopher Community Unit School District 99 | 717 | Opting Out |
| Ewing Northern Community Consolidated School District 115 | 218 | Opting Out |
| Frankfort Community Unit School District 168 | 1,581 | No Response |
| Sesser-Valier Community Unit School District 196 | 572 | Opting Out |
| Thompsonville Community Unit School District 174 | 304 | Opting Out |
| Zeigler-Royalton Community Unit School District 188 | 507 | Opting Out |
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