Proposed sex ed change is a time-wasting culture war stunt

The Indiana General Assembly is pushing for another revision of sex education requirements, despite existing laws that already provide transparency and parental control. Senate Bill 442 would mandate school boards to approve all human sexuality materials for grades 4 through 12 and publish details online, including the gender of the instructor—a requirement seen as unnecessary and politically motivated. Current laws already allow parents to opt their children out of sex education and access instructional materials upon request. Critics argue that this bill adds bureaucratic red tape without addressing real educational concerns, questioning why a teacher’s gender should impact the accuracy of sex education, writes the Journal Gazette.

In contrast, Senate Bill 482 presents a more meaningful approach by tackling chronic absenteeism, an issue affecting thousands of Indiana students. The bill promotes early intervention, limits punitive expulsions for younger students, and provides schools with the flexibility to support struggling families while maintaining accountability. Unlike SB 442, which critics see as a distraction driven by cultural politics, SB 482 offers a data-driven solution to a pressing educational problem. Rather than duplicating existing laws and creating confusion, lawmakers should prioritize policies that enhance student learning and address genuine challenges in Indiana classrooms.