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The Aurora West Unit School District 129, which teaches 10,932 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aurora East Unit School District 131 | 12,982 | Waiting |
| Aurora West Unit School District 129 | 10,932 | Opting Out |
| Batavia Unit School District 101 | 5,184 | Opting Out |
| Central Community Unit School District 301 | 4,310 | Opting Out |
| Community Unit School District 300 | 19,815 | Opting Out |
| Geneva Community Unit School District 304 | 5,153 | Opting Out |
| Kaneland Community Unit School District 302 | 4,031 | Opting Out |
| School District U-46 | 35,958 | Opting Out |
| St. Charles Community Unit School District 303 | 11,783 | Opting Out |
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