Alabama Code Title 16. Sex Education § 16-40A-2

Alabama Code § 16-40A-2, outlines the required elements of sex education in the Alabama's public schools. The statute mandates that instruction emphasize abstinence as the only fully effective means of preventing unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, and that abstinence outside marriage is the expected social norm for unmarried students. It requires that all instruction be age-appropriate and medically accurate and, where possible, include information on contraception reliability, child abuse reporting obligations, resisting coercion and exploitation, and the responsibilities of parenting, including child support. Schools must also provide advance written notice to parents before instruction begins. Adopted in 1992 and amended in 2021, the law continues to prioritize abstinence-centered education and does not include requirements for LGBTQ-inclusive or comprehensive sexuality content. The statute remains in effect, reflecting Alabama’s legislative preference for a traditional and risk-avoidance-based approach to sex education.