Dallas School District Introduces Teen Safe Sex Program in Collaboration with Education Group
The Dallas Independent School District (ISD) in Texas is partnering with a sex education organization to implement a program aimed at promoting safe sex practices among teenagers. The program, known as “Positive Prevention Plus,” is an after-school initiative developed and run by the North Texas Alliance to Reduce Unintended Pregnancy in Teens (NTARUPT).
According to Robyn Harris, a spokesperson for Dallas ISD, the curriculum emphasizes making healthy and informed choices regarding relationships and sexual behaviors. While Dallas ISD did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment, Healthy Futures of Texas (HFT) confirmed that NTARUPT had merged into their organization last year, and they are now collaborating with Dallas ISD to tailor the curriculum to Texas audiences.
The school board adopted this curriculum last year, with the formal agreement between Dallas ISD and HFT finalized in the spring semester of this year. HFT is currently working with school principals to introduce and implement the program.
Addressing High Teen Pregnancy Rates
The program’s primary focus is on preventing teen pregnancies, promoting healthy relationships, and raising awareness about abuse and sex trafficking among teenagers. Joanna Gamez, a spokesperson for HFT, highlighted the urgency of the program, stating that the teen birth rate in Dallas County is significantly higher than both the Texas and U.S. averages, with a teen mom giving birth every four hours in Dallas County.
Importantly, the program is voluntary and exclusively available to 9th-grade students. Parents have the option to opt their children out of the program if they wish.
According to Gamez, “This is an opt-in after-school curriculum that requires written parental consent to participate. Parents can choose to have their 9th grader participate in certain lessons but not others. Parents will have ample opportunity to review the curriculum prior to deciding whether or not to enroll their teens.”
HFT believes that parents and guardians play a crucial role in ensuring their children’s safety and well-being. They offer various programs and resources to support parents in discussing important topics such as healthy relationships with their teenagers.
Transparency and Controversy
While HFT declined to provide a copy of the curriculum to Fox News Digital, concerns have been raised about the program’s content. The Dallas ISD previously requested funds to fulfill a public records request related to the program’s communication, including gender identity terms and the involvement of education groups like HFT and NTARUPT.
HFT’s website also links to Resource Center, an organization that provides services for transgender individuals, including hormone therapy and gender transition-related support. This linkage has raised questions about the broader scope of the program.
HFT’s education curriculum includes the “Pride Guide to STIs,” covering topics such as “Tucking 101” and “Binding 101” for transgender students seeking to align their physical appearance with their gender identity. The program also includes links to external groups promoting gender transition hormone usage and sex change surgeries.
Federal Funding and Educational Goals
HFT has received federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of its federal Teen Pregnancy Prevention program, receiving $5.2 million in taxpayer money from fiscal year 2015 to fiscal year 2020.
In summary, the Dallas Independent School District is collaborating with Healthy Futures of Texas to implement the “Positive Prevention Plus” program, designed to address high teen pregnancy rates and promote healthy relationships among 9th-grade students. While the program is voluntary and requires parental consent, concerns have arisen regarding its content and links to organizations supporting transgender individuals and gender transition-related services.