One Town's Effort to Protect Kids

In Helena, Montana, parents rallied together to oppose an explicit K-12 sex-education curriculum. Several parents discovered their children were being taught explicit sex-ed material without parental knowledge or consent.

Turning the Tide: Parents Can Make a Difference

In Helena, Montana, parents rallied together to oppose an explicit K-12 sex-education curriculum.  Several parents discovered their children were being taught explicit sex-ed material without parental knowledge or consent. They spoke to other parents, community members and their state legislators – and the momentum grew. Helena school board members received thousands of emails from community members, which resulted in the school board amending the curriculum to be “less objectionable.” 

That wasn’t enough for Montana legislators who passed a law (HB 456) to give parents advance warning of sex education and to require parents “opt” their children into sex-ed programs. The bill would also have prohibited a school district from allowing any abortion-services provider to offer materials or instruction at school.  Unfortunately, Gov. Brian Schweitzer vetoed the bill; however, the parents have vowed to keep up efforts to have more voice in their children’s sex education at school.