This blog article was originally posted to Amplify’s social media accounts on November 19, 2022. It was uploaded as a blog post to the Amplify website on February 27, 2023, and backdated to its original publication date.
Dear Tulsa Community!
Confusing and inaccurate information about sexual health education in Tulsa Public Schools is being shared on social media. Parents and caregivers need accurate information to decide what’s best for their families. Read below for the correct information and who to reach out to if you have further questions.
- Tulsa Public Schools classroom teachers do not teach the program. Trained specialists from the Tulsa Health Department and Youth Services of Tulsa teach the lessons. Amplify supports these organizations.
- Abortion is not taught in the Positive Prevention PLUS (P3) curriculum at Tulsa Public Schools.
- The curriculum does not teach about 8 different ways to have sex. Sexual behaviors are only discussed to explain how to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
- Schools host parent preview nights before sex ed lessons begin, where parents receive an overview of the program, can review the full curriculum, and ask questions of the educator who will be teaching the lessons.
- If parents cannot attend the parent preview night, they can request to review the full curriculum with their school’s site coordinator or by emailing info@amplifytulsa.org to schedule a time to review. Please include your name and the name of your child’s school.
- With a few exceptions, high schools typically schedule sex ed in the fall, and middle schools schedule in the spring. Your school will notify you when the program has been scheduled.
- If you are concerned that you did not receive an opt-out form for your student, please be assured that there is a process in place. Before the start of sex ed classes at your child’s school, an opt-out form will be provided to you either digitally via email, physically via your child’s teacher, or in some instances, both.
- Parents may opt-out at any point during the 13-lesson program; even during lesson 12. You can opt your child out of receiving the curriculum by completing an opt-out form and submitting it to your school’s Positive Prevention PLUS site coordinator.
You can find an overview of the P3 curriculum for TPS and a downloadable version of the opt-out form at amplifytulsa.org/tps. Please coordinate with your child’s school to ensure the appropriate school site coordinator receives the form, and your student will be excused from sexual health education classes.
Please help us share this information widely, especially with TPS parents!