California’s Sex Education Program Under Review
The Trump administration has issued a 60-day ultimatum to California, instructing the state to eliminate all references to gender identity from its federally funded sex education curriculum. This comes as California’s Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) grant is currently under scrutiny.
Since March, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has been examining materials from California’s sex education program. The review was initiated to ensure that the curriculum is both medically accurate and suitable for the age group it targets.
A Friday notice from ACF to California’s PREP indicated that some course content was flagged as promoting what the agency termed “gender ideology.” Following a review, officials assessed that portions of the curriculum did not comply with established laws governing the program, which led to a suspension of the review for “medical accuracy.”
Andrew Ground, the acting assistant secretary of ACF, stated, “The Trump administration will not tolerate the use of federal funds on programs that inculcate our children.” He added that the curriculum’s content is inconsistent with the foundational objectives set out for such programs, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability.
Some concepts related to transgender identities were noted as problematic, particularly those directed at middle school students. One lesson purportedly explained how some individuals do not identify strictly as boys or girls, and discussed feelings that might differ from their biological sex.
High school materials have also attracted attention, touching on topics like “social transitions” versus “medical transitions.” Additionally, they explore what it means to identify as “non-binary,” further complicating discussions surrounding gender identity.
An element of the teacher training materials scrutinized by ACF included definitions around gender identity, characterizing some individuals as “cisgender,” which refers to those whose gender identity aligns with their assigned sex at birth.
The notice from ACF underscores that California’s PREP was originally intended to focus primarily on educating youth about preventing sexually transmitted infections, including discussions on abstinence and birth control.
With 60 days to comply, California must revise its materials and resubmit them for federal approval. If changes are not made within this timeframe, the agency has indicated it may withhold or terminate the federal grants that support the state’s program.
