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The Bethel School District 82, which teaches 185 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bethel School District 82 | 185 | Opting Out |
| Farrington Community Consolidated School District 99 | 58 | Opting Out |
| Field Community Consolidated School District 3 | 257 | Opting Out |
| Grand Prairie Community Consolidated School District 6 | 73 | Opting Out |
| McClellan Community Consolidated School District 12 | 46 | No Response |
| Mount Vernon School District 80 | 1,485 | Opting Out |
| Mount Vernon Township High School District 201 | 1,155 | Opting Out |
| Opdyke-Belle Rive Community Consolidated School District 5 | 147 | Opting Out |
| Rome Community Consolidated School District 2 | 396 | Opting Out |
| Spring Garden Community Consolidated School District 178 | 237 | Opting Out |
| Summersville School District 79 | 278 | Opting Out |
| Waltonville Community Unit School District 1 | 319 | Opting Out |
| Woodlawn Unit School District 209 | 501 | Opting Out |
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