California Healthy Youth Act: adoption.

Assembly Member Castillo's proposal to expand California's sexual health education curriculum would require schools to provide students with detailed information about adoption processes, rights, and local resources as part of existing pregnancy outcome discussions.

The measure builds upon current requirements under the California Healthy Youth Act, which mandates comprehensive sexual health education for students in grades 7-12. While existing law requires schools to discuss adoption as one of several pregnancy outcomes, the proposed amendment would specify that these discussions must include explanations of different adoption types, birth parent rights, and information about local adoption resources and support services.

The legislation maintains all other elements of the current sexual health curriculum, including instruction on HIV prevention, contraception, and relationship health. Local educational agencies would continue to have discretion over providing optional instruction about digital media risks and offering age-appropriate content before grade 7. Under the state constitution's provisions for mandated programs, school districts would be eligible for reimbursement of costs associated with implementing the enhanced adoption education requirements.