Getting Real About Comprehensive Sex Ed

By Suzanne Schrag | November 15, 2014

ETR recently published the Get Real curriculum from Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts (PPLM). This comprehensive sexuality education program for middle school and high school has been rigorously evaluated and shown to have a positive impact on young people's sexual risk behaviors. 

Get Real emphasizes social and emotional skills as a key component of healthy relationships and responsible decision making. It promotes abstinence from sex as the healthiest choice for adolescents, but also provides a comprehensive understanding of sexual health, sexuality and protection methods. The program consists of a Middle School curriculum for Grades 6, 7 and 8 and a High School curriculum to be delivered in Grade 9 or 10.

One unique feature of the program is its strong family involvement component. Take-home family activities in every lesson support parents as the primary sexuality educators of their children and encourage dialogue between students and the caring adults in their lives about sexual health topics. 

Get Real comes as a full-service package with integrated training for effective implementation. PPLM also maintains a teacher support website at getrealeducation.org that offers ongoing online support and resources for Get Real teachers.

Working with the folks at PPLM was a real pleasure. We're very excited about distributing this effective program to a wider audience and supporting PPLM's training efforts to help teachers become skilled and confident in delivering comprehensive sexuality education.