Public school participation in the education of our children on matters of life and sex is a matter of justifiable parental and citizen concern. Growing public interest in this topic was reflected in the introduction of several bills during the 1970 Session of the General Assembly to curtail or regulate sex. education in the public schools and in the controversy generated during the Session on this subject. The General Assembly declined, however, to intervene precipitously in matters of public school curriculum and instruction without careful investigation.

To obtain a full report on the status of and administrative control over sex education in our schools, the 1970 General Assembly created. this Committee and directed it to discuss these matters thoroughly with State education officials and report directly back to the Governor and General Assembly on the substance of these discussions.

Senate Joint Resolution No. 61 is the directive for this study and report.

The purpose of this Resolution was clearly to give the General Assembly the means and the opportunity to investigate the present status of sex education programs in Virginia's public schools and to review the procedures for approving such programs.

This Committee was appointed pursuant to the Resolution by the Chairmen of the ·senate and House Committees on Education after the 1970 General Assembly adjourned. Appointed from the Senate Education Committee were Hunter B. Andrews, Hampton; D. Woodrow Bird, Bland; James D. Hagood, Clover; J. Harry Michael, Jr., Charlottesville; and Edward E. Willey, Richmond. House Education Committee members appointed were Grady W. Dalton, Richlands; George J. Kostel, Clifton Forge; Julien J. Mason, Bowling Green; W. Roy Smith, Petersburg; and Stanley C. Walker, Norfolk. The Committee selected Senator Willey to serve as Chairman.

This Report is based on extensive discussions by Committee members with the State Board of Education at its annual August 1970 meeting and with representatives of the State Department of Education on several occasions.

Senate Joint Resolution No. 61 directed the Committee to conduct such discussions for the purpose of promoting the resolution of any problems relating to sex education in the public schools. The Resolution does not call for recommendations for legislative action but requests a factual accounting of present procedures and programs involving this particular aspect of public school education.

Therefore it is the goal of this Report to inform -- not to persuade. The following text and the appendices will describe the status of sex education in our schools and the development of strengthened procedures to regulate and review the teaching of sex education and the use of relevant materials.