Farmington, New Mexico, Broadens Sex Education

In a 3-1 vote on Oct. 27, the Farmington school board approved a comprehensive sex education curriculum. The board voted unanimously to allow parents with objections to opt their children out of the instruction. The change follows a surge in teen pregnancies: 67 district students became pregnant in the 2009-10 academic year. District Nursing Coordinator Cathy McDonald said the expanded curriculum will still emphasize abstinence. "We want medically accurate information. That's all we're interested in," she told the board. The new policy has been in development since August, said Chris Pash, director of secondary curriculum and instruction. He added that parents will receive a letter that they can sign and return to keep their children out of the classes. The curriculum and the opt-out policy will be explained on a website. The new instruction will be introduced next semester.

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