NJ Sex Ed Curriculum Must Be Put Online Beforehand If New Law Passes

EATONTOWN, NJ — A top Democratic lawmaker who sponsored the bill that allowed New Jersey's controversial new sex education standards to be written now says he plans to introduce legislation that will require school districts publish all curriculum online during the summer, or at least 14 days before classes start.

The lawmaker is state Senator Vin Gopal, chairman of the Senate Education Committee. Gopal represents southern Monmouth County in Trenton, including the towns of Eatontown, Long Branch, Tinton Falls, Ocean Township and Red Bank.

This comes after parental outcry over controversial new health and physical education standards, set to go into effect this fall. Gopal was the prime sponsor of this 2020 bill that called for more inclusivity in health education for 9th-12th graders; that bill he sponsored allowed the state's new sex ed. standards to be written.

Gopal insists his bill only allowed for sex education changes in 9th-12th grade and not new curriculum standards for sex ed. in elementary school. Gopal also said he is personally uncomfortable with some of the language proposed by the state, which Gov. Murphy said last week he will be "reviewing" after the outcry from parents and lawmakers — mostly Republican but some Democratic lawmakers took issue with the content, as well.

"I am horrified by some of these words I'm seeing in some of these sample lesson plans," said Gopal last Thursday. "No district has to (or in my opinion should) use the words 'masturbation' or others discussed in the examples listed within those standards."

Although Gopal's bill is technically called "Transparency in Health & Sex Education Curriculum," Gopal said his bill would require school districts publish all their curriculum online in the summer, not just sex education or phys. ed. curriculum. So a school district would have to publish its curriculum for math, science, history, English/Language Arts, etc.

When asked by Patch, Gopal said he did not think it would be a burden for school districts to do this. He also said some school districts in the area he represents, such as Freehold Township, already publish their curriculum online the summer before classes start.

"My bill would require districts to publish the curriculums, not the specific lesson plans from teachers," Gopal clarified.

Patch also asked the state teachers' union, the New Jersey Education Association, what they think of Gopal's proposal, and whether it would be too onerous for New Jersey teachers. A union spokesman, Steve Baker, said it was too early to comment on Gopal's idea, without seeing the legislation first.

"But I will say that the way it works is the state of New Jersey sets education standards, school boards develop curriculum and then teachers create individual lesson plans," said Baker.

By law, local NJ school boards have to vote on and approve curriculum, usually done the year before it is taught.

But two Republican lawmakers, who also represent Monmouth County, are calling out Gopal's bill as "backpedaling" and "damage control for Democrats."

"Parents should have been involved in this disastrous sex-ed curriculum discussion from the beginning,” Assemblywomen Marilyn Piperno (R-Monmouth) said Wednesday. “And now, only after parents are rightfully outraged, Vin is backpedaling once again.”

She also noted that in 2020, Gopal voted in favor to legalize marijuana. But after an outcry from parents who realized there was a provision that deterred police officers from notifying them if their children were caught drunk or high, he sponsored an amendment requiring such notification.

"Strike one, he voted to cut funding for our Monmouth County schools. Strike two was the marijuana bill that blindsided parents, Kim Eulner (R-Monmouth) said. “ Strike three is his weak proposal to fix the inappropriate and outrageous sex-ed standards. Three strikes … It's time to call Vin out."

Gopal said he plans to introduce the bill before the Senate Education Committee on May 9.

"This bill will bring full transparency to our health and sex education curriculums in our 600-plus school districts in the state," said Gopal Wednesday. "A lot of what's being taught in New Jersey schools are also created by third-party educational consulting firms. This will allow parents to see what type of educational content is being created by these third-party companies."

Gopal also reiterated what he said last week: That the sex education standards from the state are more of a guide and don't have to be followed exactly. The 66-page curriculum guide from the Department of Education includes talking about gender identity to second graders and discussing masturbation with fifth graders. Another requirement from the state is that by the end of eighth grade, students should be able to "define vaginal, oral and anal sex." Teachers should "describe pregnancy testing, the signs of pregnancy, and pregnancy options, including parenting, abortion and adoption" by the end of eighth grade, the DOE guidelines read.

Previously on Patch: Murphy Orders Review Of Controversial Sex Education Standards (April 13)

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