Changes To Sex Ed, Dress Code Passed By Fairfax Co. School Board

The Fairfax County School Board voted Thursday night to make changes to the sex education curriculum and dress code, a move that drew heated debate from both sides.

One of the changes included changing references of "biological sex" to "sex assigned at birth" in the curriculum. The sex ed program will also teach students about more types of contraception while still recognizing that abstinence is the only 100 percent effective method to sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy. The curriculum change includes informing students about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a drug used by people at risk of HIV infection.

In addition, the board approved changes to make the dress code more gender neutral. This includes eliminating references to cleavage and rather not allow clothing exposing “private areas” or excessive bare skin. Supporters of the changes believe the dress code treated girls unfairly.

The new policy reads, "All students are expected to dress appropriately for a K-12 educational environment. Any clothing that interferes with or disrupts the educational environment is unacceptable. Clothing with language or images that are vulgar, discriminatory, or obscene; or clothing that promotes illegal or violent conduct, such as gang symbols, the unlawful use of weapons, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, or drug paraphernalia; or clothing that contains threats is prohibited."

The recommendations came from a committee representing students, teachers, administrators, and community members. The changes will go into effect for the 2018-19 school year.

The meeting drew a packed audience with people of opposing sides and hours of debate on the sex ed changes, WTOP reported. Supporters of LGBTQ and transgender students believe the changes are more inclusive, while opponents disagreed with the "sex assigned at birth" term and the promotion of contraception rather than abstinence.

Fairfax County Public Schools received 192 emails supporting the "sex assigned at birth" change ang 941 emails opposed between May 10 and June 8, NBC Washington reported.

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