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The Winnebago Community Unit School District 323, which teaches 1,265 students, reported it has opted out of teaching the new curriculum, which includes lessons about masturbation starting in Grade 3.
There were three school districts which did not reply to a query about if it would opt out of teaching the curriculum or said it would wait to make a decision.
The curriculum was criticized by Republicans as “outrageous” and “perverted” while advocates claimed it would safely teach students about things they’re already learning on the internet.
Out of Illinois’ 852 school districts, 520 have opted out of teaching the lessons, leaving students with no sex education lessons at all.
School districts can’t normally opt out of teaching part of a curriculum. However, the sex education bill signed by the Illinois governor included the opportunity for school districts to opt out of teaching the curriculum if they were opposed to the teaching. Some school districts have opted out of teaching the curriculum for certain grades.
Individual school data was gathered by grassroots organization Awake, IL.
| School District | Number of Students | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Durand Community Unit School District 322 | 552 | Waiting |
| Harlem Unit School District 122 | 6,233 | Opting Out |
| Hononegah Community High School District 207 | 1,937 | Opting Out |
| Kinnikinnick Community Consolidated School District 131 | 1,690 | Opting Out |
| Pecatonica Community Unit School District 321 | 870 | Waiting |
| Prairie Hill Community Consolidated School District 133 | 724 | No Response |
| Rockford School District 205 | 26,089 | Adopting |
| Rockton School District 140 | 1,540 | Opting Out |
| Shirland Community Consolidated School District 134 | 93 | Opting Out |
| South Beloit Community Unit School District 320 | 910 | Opting Out |
| Winnebago Community Unit School District 323 | 1,265 | Opting Out |
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