Gwinnett County wants to overhaul sex ed. program, but 90% of parents are opposed

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Gwinnett County Schools is considering switching to a comprehensive sex education curriculum, overhauling its sex ed. for the first time in more than 20 years.

Channel 2′s Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Matt Johnson was at school district headquarters, where some pilot programs have already been tested.

The district has used abstinence-centered Choosing the Best for sex education for 22 years.

A comprehensive health curriculum is being proposed that would also include sex education.

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A teacher review committee recently submitted recommendations that the district move toward a more inclusive curriculum to better align with state standards.

“It was not free of bias or inclusive of our current population of students that we’re providing instruction to,” said Dr. Tasha Guadalupe, Director of Health and Physical Education for Gwinnett County Schools.

However, initial parent feedback has been overwhelmingly negative, according to two school board members.

“Over 90% of the participants who were a part of the survey, that is to say, adults or parents were not in support,” said Dr. Mary Kay Murphy, Gwinnett Board of Education Member, during a Thursday work session.

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Parents involved in pilot programs in October 2022 responded to a district survey with feedback, according to a parent survey obtained by Board of Education member Dr. Murphy and fellow board member Steven Knudsen.

Channel 2 Action News has requested a copy of the survey through the district.

Copies of the survey are being made available to additional board members by request.

Dr. Murphy indicated that her copy was provided by parents who filed Freedom of Information Act requests.

Some of those parents have raised concerns about the new curriculum, called Health Smart, and its inclusion of detailed genitalia illustrations and lessons on gender identity and sexuality.

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“These are conversations that we believe will be reserved for the home and a child and their parents,” said parent Holly Terei.

“Why are we trying to change something that is working?” asked parent Denise Rumbaugh.

Rumbaugh points to data that shows declines in teen pregnancy in the county since the introduction of the Choosing the Best curriculum.

Parents can opt their children of sex education courses at any time, according to the district.

A scheduled vote on the changes is set for next month’s Board of Education meeting.

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