From Policy to Practice: How IHAM Supports Sustainable and Inclusive Comprehensive Sex Education
Participants will examine how IHAM policies and other related policies support the implementation of comprehensive sex education (CSE). They will explore IHAM best practices, review relevant resources to support policy updates, and have dedicated time to apply what they’ve learned by reviewing their own district’s IHAM policies and developing action plans for revisions and improvements.
Age Group(s) - Grades K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-10, Grades 11-12
Topic(s) - Sex education in schools
Professional Learning Standards for Sex Education (PLSSE) Indicators
Effective Teaching Strategies Indicators - Indicator 6 (K-12): Describe three strategies for actively involving parents, caregivers, and other trusted adults in a sex education program.
Sex Education In Schools Indicators - Indicator 1 (K-12): Describe three health (e.g. physical, social and/or emotional) and/or academic benefits of sex education for young people
- Indicator 2 (K-12): Describe state and/or district laws, policies, and standards that relate to sex education where one teaches.
Sex Ed for All: The Role of Communities in Sex Education Advocacy
In this workshop, we’ll define what comprehensive sex education (CSE) is and how it looks across Colorado. We’ll take time to reflect on the young people in our lives and how powerful trusted adults and CSE can be for young people. We’ll also explore practical ways to advocate for change and start building action plans that fit your unique role in your community. Each person will leave with clear action steps and resources to support the young people in their lives. Whether you are a young person yourself, a parent, a youth-serving professional, or simply a caring community member, we are excited to see you there!
Age Group(s) - Grades K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-10, Grades 11-12
Topic(s) - Sex education in schools
Professional Learning Standards for Sex Education (PLSSE) Indicators
Effective Teaching Strategies Indicators - Indicator 6 (K-12): Describe three strategies for actively involving parents, caregivers, and other trusted adults in a sex education program.
Sex Education In Schools Indicators - Indicator 1 (K-12): Describe three health (e.g. physical, social and/or emotional) and/or academic benefits of sex education for young people
- Indicator 2 (K-12): Describe state and/or district laws, policies, and standards that relate to sex education where one teaches.
Keeping the Door Open: Skills for Supporting Conversations About Sexual Health and Difficult Topics at Home and in the Community
Participants will explore strategies to keeping the door open to challenging conversations with the young people in their lives, how to answer questions around sexual health, mental health, substance use etc. and practice time to integrate strategies into their own words and unique context to the youth they support.
Age Group(s) - Grades K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-10, Grades 11-12
Topic(s) - Responding to challenging questions, Values
Professional Learning Standards for Sex Education (PLSSE) Indicators
Responding to Challenging Questions Indicators - Indicator 1 (K-12): Explain three reasons why it is important to respond to every question students ask when teaching sex education.
- Indicator 2 (K-12): Demonstrate the ability to effectively respond to three different types of challenging questions. (S)
Sex Education In Schools Indicators - Indicator 1 (K-12): Describe three health (e.g. physical, social and/or emotional) and/or academic benefits of sex education for young people
- Indicator 2 (K-12): Describe state and/or district laws, policies, and standards that relate to sex education where one teaches.
Values Indicators - Indicator 1 (K-12): Explain the differences between personal and universal values relating to sexuality.
- Indicator 2 (K-12): Describe how verbal and nonverbal expression of personal values, and comfort with topics related to sex education, could impact one’s teaching
- Indicator 3 (K-12): Explain the importance of educators refraining from sharing their personal values when implementing sex education.
- Indicator 4 (K-12): Demonstrate the ability to respond effectively to students’ values-based comments and questions. (S)
LGBTQ+ Inclusion and Culturally Relevant Education Practices
Participants will explore strategies to holistically support marginalized youth both inside and outside the classroom through values reflection and community-informed best practices. They will also learn how to stay current with inclusive language and relevant resources for young people and their supporters. Participants will leave with reflective tools, including our Curriculum Inclusivity Audit Tool, to help integrate these skills into their existing programs.
Age Group(s) - Grades K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-10, Grades 11-12
Topic(s) - Conscious and unconscious bias about race, ethnicity, and culture disclosure, Creating an inclusive and affirming learning environment, Effective teaching strategies, LGBQ+ identities, Racial and reproductive justice, Transgender and gender expansive identities
Professional Learning Standards for Sex Education (PLSSE) Indicators
Conscious and unconscious bias about race, ethnicity, and culture Indicators - Indicator 1 (K-12): Define conscious and unconscious bias and explain how they could influence one’s teaching of sex education.
- Indicator 3 (K-12): Explain how an educator’s personal beliefs about racial and reproductive justice could influence their teaching of sex education.
- Indicator 4 (K-12): Describe three strategies to reduce the impact of conscious and unconscious bias and enhance cross-cultural interactions in the classroom when teaching sex education.
Creating and inclusive and affirming learning environment Indicators - Indicator 1 (K-12): Demonstrate three techniques to create an inclusive and affirming learning environment. (S)
- Indicator 2 (K-12): Demonstrate three strategies for creating culturally responsive classrooms. (S)
LGBQ+ Identities Indicators - Indicator 1 (K-12): Explain how availability of supportive school staff, presence of Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs), LGBQ-inclusive curricular resources, and the presence of comprehensive, enumerated anti-harassment school policies are related to improved school climate for students of all sexual orientations.
- Indicator 2 (K-12): Define sexual orientation and sexual identity, including that everyone has both.
- Indicator 3 (6-12): Explain the difference between sexual orientation, sexual behavior, and sexual identity.
- Indicator 4 (K-12): Demonstrate the use of inclusive and affirming language. (S)
- Indicator 5 (K-12): Demonstrate the ability to intervene effectively in homophobic and other bullying comments and actions. (S)
- Indicator 6 (K-12): Explain three ways that LGBQ+ youth are at disproportionate risk for health disparities.
- Indicator 7 (K-12): Identify three credible, medically accurate, youth-friendly resources that can provide information or support related to sexual orientation.
Racial and Reproductive Justice Indicators - Indicator 3 (K-12): Describe three ways power, privilege, prejudice, discrimination, and stereotypes related to age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, socio-economic status, immigration status, and/or physical or intellectual ability can impact sexual health and reproductive justice.
- Indicator 4 (K-12): Describe three effective response strategies when a student or school community member has been hurt or wronged by bias.
- Indicator 5 (K-12): Describe three strategies educators can use to acknowledge and proactively work to mitigate the impact of bias on their students’ sexual health and multiple, intersecting identities.
Transgender and Gender Expansive Identities Indicator - Indicator 2 (K-12): Demonstrate the use of inclusive and affirming language. (S)
- Indicator 3 (K-12): Define gender identity and sex assigned at birth.
- Indicator 4 (K-12): Explain how gender identity and gender expression are distinct from each other and from sexual orientation.
- Indicator 5 (K-12): Demonstrate the ability to intervene effectively in transphobic, sexist, misogynistic and other gender-related bullying comments and actions. (S)
- Indicator 6 (K-12): Explain three ways that transgender and gender expansive youth are at disproportionate risk for health disparities.
- Indicator 7 (K-12): Identify three credible, medically accurate, youth-friendly resources that can provide information or support related to transgender and gender expansive people.
Values Indicators - Indicator 1 (K-12): Explain the differences between personal and universal values relating to sexuality.
- Indicator 3 (K-12): Explain the importance of educators refraining from sharing their personal values when implementing sex education.
Sexual Health Development: Using Skills and Standards to Inform Age-Appropriate Content
Participants will explore natural sexual health development throughout adolescents, how standards and skills support sexual health development, and strategies for talking to families and trusted adults about how comprehensive sex education information supports adolescents through various ages and stages.
Age Group(s) - Grades K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-10, Grades 11-12
Topic(s) - Effective teaching strategies, Sex education in schools
Professional Learning Standards for Sex Education (PLSSE) Indicators
Effective Teaching Strategies Indicators - Indicator 6 (K-12): Describe three strategies for actively involving parents, caregivers, and other trusted adults in a sex education program.
- Indicator 7 (K-12): Demonstrate the ability to analyze and tailor lesson plans to match the age, developmental stages, cultural backgrounds, and other identities of students. (S)
Sexual & Reproductive Anatomy and Physiology Indicators - Indicator 1 (K-5): Explain the benefits of teaching young children the medically accurate terms for genitals.
Trauma-Informed and Healing-Centered Sex Education
Participants will gain a clear understanding of what trauma is, including how experiences such as systemic oppression, microaggressions, and marginalization can lead to acute trauma. They will learn how trauma may affect students' behavior, participation, and overall experience in sex education. The session will also provide strategies for creating a trauma-informed classroom environment when teaching sexual health, as well as tools to help educators manage their own trauma or triggers and better support the youth they work with.
Age Group(s) - Grades K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-10, Grades 11-12
Topic(s) - Creating an inclusive and affirming learning environment, Disclosure, Effective teaching strategies, LGBQ+ identities, Racial and reproductive justice
Professional Learning Standards for Sex Education (PLSSE) Indicators
Creating and inclusive and affirming learning environment Indicators - Indicator 1 (K-12): Demonstrate three techniques to create an inclusive and affirming learning environment. (S)
- Indicator 2 (K-12): Demonstrate three strategies for creating culturally responsive classrooms. (S)
- Indicator 3 (K-12): Describe three elements of a trauma-informed approach to sex education.
- Indicator 4 (K-12): Demonstrate three strategies of a trauma-informed approach to sex education (e.g. giving trigger warnings before content on sexual assault and allowing students the right to pass as appropriate, etc.). (S)
Disclosure Indicators - Indicator 1 (K-12): Describe the importance of teachers’ maintaining professional boundaries when teaching sex education.
- Indicator 2 (K-12): List three factors to consider regarding personal disclosure when teaching sex education
Embodying Values-Expansive Facilitation: Answering Youth Questions with Confidence
Participants will learn how to be values-expansive when facilitating sex education. They will explore common types of questions that arise in sexual health classes and gain tools and strategies to respond to challenging questions in affirming and de-stigmatizing ways. The session includes hands-on practice using these tools. Adults will leave with practical resources and increased confidence in addressing sensitive questions while honoring the diverse values students may bring to the classroom.
Age Group(s) - Grades K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-10, Grades 11-12
Topic(s) - Creating an inclusive and affirming learning environment, Disclosure, Effective teaching strategies, Responding to challenging questions, Values
Professional Learning Standards for Sex Education (PLSSE) Indicators
Disclosure Indicators - Indicator 4 (K-12): Explain the roles and responsibilities of a mandated reporter.
- Indicator 5 (K-12): Explain the state- and district-mandated reporting requirements and procedures.
Effective Teaching Strategies Indicators - Indicator 3 (K-12): Explain the differences between positive vs. shaming approaches to teaching sex education.
Responding to Challenging Questions Indicators - Indicator 1 (K-12): Explain three reasons why it is important to respond to every question students ask when teaching sex education.
- Indicator 2 (K-12): Demonstrate the ability to effectively respond to three different types of challenging questions. (S)
Values Indicators - Indicator 1 (K-12): Explain the differences between personal and universal values relating to sexuality.
- Indicator 2 (K-12): Describe how verbal and nonverbal expression of personal values, and comfort with topics related to sex education, could impact one’s teaching
- Indicator 3 (K-12): Explain the importance of educators refraining from sharing their personal values when implementing sex education.
- Indicator 4 (K-12): Demonstrate the ability to respond effectively to students’ values-based comments and questions. (S)
Colorado Comprehensive Sex Education Landscape and Overview
Participants will develop a shared definition of comprehensive sex education, explore positive health outcomes, Colorado law and policy, and what comprehensive sex education looks like in action throughout Colorado.
Age Group(s) - Grades K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-10, Grades 11-12
Topic(s) - LGBQ+ identities, Racial and reproductive justice, Sex education in schools
Professional Learning Standards for Sex Education (PLSSE) Indicators
Disclosure Indicators - Indicator 4 (K-12): Explain the roles and responsibilities of a mandated reporter.
- Indicator 5 (K-12): Explain the state- and district-mandated reporting requirements and procedures.
Effective Teaching Strategies Indicators - Indicator 6 (K-12): Describe three strategies for actively involving parents, caregivers, and other trusted adults in a sex education program.
Sex Education In Schools Indicators - Indicator 1 (K-12): Describe three health (e.g. physical, social and/or emotional) and/or academic benefits of sex education for young people
- Indicator 2 (K-12): Describe state and/or district laws, policies, and standards that relate to sex education where one teaches.
