Eagle Era

Health education curriculum must remove gender identity from course or face funding cuts

By Iniya Prabahar

In a move to reshape health education programs across the United States, the Trump administration has warned that schools and states risk losing federal funding unless references to “gender ideology” are removed from federally supported health curricula. 

According to a directive issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), 46 states and territories have been told to excise any content suggesting that gender identity is distinct from biological sex or face consequences like the suspension or termination of grants. Reuters reported that the state of California’s grant for the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP)—whicht provides funding to states to support comprehensive sex education programs focusing on preventing teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections—has already been revoked after the state refused to comply. 

Ms. Sanfaçon, a health teacher at AHS, described how the curriculum at AHS is structured and the topics it covers. “At American, we follow the content that the state of California puts out,” she said. “One of our 6 main units is the California Health Priority and Sexuality Education Unit—that’s where we talk about things like gender identity and sexual orientation.”

Under California law, public schools are required to teach medically accurate and inclusive health education that covers topics such as gender identity, consent, and sexual orientation. Parents are allowed to opt their children out of this unit if they choose. Students who take the course receive instruction intended to teach them about human development and social interactions.

Some students who opted out of the unit noticed a difference in their understanding of these concepts. “As someone who didn’t take the course, I know that my friends have a lot more knowledge on [gender identity] than me,” said Shree Gunda (10). “It’s something that helps people learn to respect each other.”

Ms. Sanfaçon added that the curriculum plays a key role in keeping students informed. “The more well-educated people are, the better off we’re all going to be. Taking that information away doesn’t protect students; it keeps them uninformed,” Ms. Sanfaçon said. 

A poster in the rotunda recognizes and honors historical figures who celebrated their gender and LGBTQ+ identity. “People have been different genders since the beginning of time. It’s a spectrum,” said Ms. Sanfaçon (Photo Credit: Iniya Prabahar (12)).

Trump’s proposal would force districts to make a difficult choice: comply with federal standards and risk violating state education law, or maintain their inclusive curriculum and lose federal support.

For teachers like Ms. Sanfaçon, that choice is clear. “I personally don’t think that I would adjust myself to fit some alternate scenario,” said Ms. Sanfaçon. “Most of California is comfortable with the arrangement we have.” 

She added that lessons on gender and identity are not political but part of understanding human development. “I think that there are age-appropriate boundaries. Middle schools get a certain level of that training and elementary schools even less. It’s not something that’s inappropriate; it’s just part of being human.”

To her, erasing this part of the curriculum ignores history and human diversity. “It’s nauseating to hear from some camps that there are only 2 genders; that’s just not true. There’s a large variation in between,” Ms. Sanfaçon said. 

Despite growing uncertainty surrounding Trump’s directive, Ms. Sanfaçon is confident in California’s education system. “[Trump] has already removed funding from the Department of Education anyway. [Governor Gavin] Newsom won’t let this curriculum be removed. Not in California,” said Ms. Sanfaçon.