The California Healthy Youth Act (CHYA), which took effect January 1, 2016, requires school districts to provide students with integrated, comprehensive, accurate, and inclusive Comprehensive Sexual Health Education (CSHE) once in middle school and once in high school.

 A CDC report published in 2018 found that “nearly half of all new sexually transmitted infections (46%) occur among young people ages 15-24.” (CDC, 2018). According to a California Department of Public Health report in 2021, “STI rates persisted throughout the state, with the highest rates among young people (aged 15-24 years).” (CDPH, 2021). 

In April 2024, the California AG sent a letter to Modesto Pregnancy Center requesting that it substantiate its claims that its education was in compliance with CHYA mandates following a series of parental complaints of its non-compliance with CHYA mandates. SB 954 (Menjivar) was at risk of a stalemate in Appropriations in summer 2024 and as recent as August 2024 made it to the First Chamber. SB 954 would require each public school, including schools operated by a school district or county office of education, charter schools, and state special schools, to make internal and external condoms available to all pupils in grades 9 to 12. 

Given the political climate surrounding sexual health education and associated rights, researchers at the Southern California HIV/AIDS Policy Research Center (SCHPRC) aim to study the implementation of CHYA, California’s comprehensive sex education law, at this critical moment. Through an analysis of CHIS sexual health variables, researchers aim to examine sexual health outcome differences for sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth and cisgender youth, to identify any correlates regarding sexual health outcomes for STIs and HIV, and to understand any differences in county-level implementation of CHYA education over time (pre- and post-CHYA). From this research, we aim to gauge school districts’ CHYA compliance across the state, identify gaps in sexual health education, and explore policy solutions to address unmet sexual health education needs of SGM youth to support their health, education, and well-being.