What began as a change in school curricula has transformed into a fiery debate over parental rights and transparency in New Jersey’s new sex and health education standards. The standards, which are set to go into effect this fall, were actually voted on two years ago. The state has only issued guidelines; individual school boards have final say over their schools’ sex education curriculum. Many parents and conservative lawmakers have called the new standards “pornographic” and “obscene.”
State Sen.Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth), who chairs the Senate Education Committee, has waded into the debate, sponsoring legislation that would enhance transparency around sex and health education.
