This book is B&W copy of the government agency publication. The purpose of the Guidelines for the Sexual Health Education Component of Comprehensive Health Education (CT Guidelines) is to provide a framework to promote the sexual health and wellbeing of Connecticut's children and youth within a comprehensive health education program. The CT Guidelines offer guidance to local school districts for the development and implementation of sexual health education that reflects the values and norms of the local community. Sexual health education programs include age-appropriate, medically accurate information on a broad set of topics related to sexuality, including human development, relationships, decision-making, abstinence, contraception, and disease prevention (SIECUS, 2010). These developmentally appropriate programs start in prekindergarten and continue through Grade 12. The overall goal of sexual health education is to provide young people with the knowledge and skills to promote their health and well-being as they mature into sexually healthy adults (SIECUS, Guidelines, 2004). The CT Guidelines contain information and resources to assist administrators, teachers and parents/guardians in: making the connection between sexual health and student health and education outcomes; implementing district and school policies that support medically accurate sexual health education programs that address the health needs of all students; identifying desired curriculum goals, objectives and student outcomes; developing an effective PK-12 sexual health education program using developmentally appropriate, medically-accurate and evidence-informed curricula and resources; implementing a sexual health education program using evidence-informed curricula, effective teaching strategies, and student assessments delivered by certified health education teachers appropriately trained in sexual health education; and evaluating the implementation of program goals, objectives and student outcomes."