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The Rochelle Community Consolidated School District 231, which teaches 1,536 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Byron Community Unit School District 226 | 1,463 | Opting Out |
| Creston Community Consolidated School District 161 | 94 | Opting Out |
| Eswood Community Consolidated School District 269 | 68 | No Response |
| Forrestville Valley Community Unit School District 221 | 711 | Opting Out |
| Kings Consolidated School District 144 | 87 | Opting Out |
| Meridian Community Unit School District 223 | 1,476 | Opting Out |
| Oregon Community Unit School District 220 | 1,451 | Opting Out |
| Polo Community Unit School District 222 | 527 | Opting Out |
| Rochelle Community Consolidated School District 231 | 1,536 | Opting Out |
| Rochelle Township High School District 212 | 856 | Opting Out |
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