title: Improving sexuality education: the development of teacher-preparation standards.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Teaching sexuality education to support young people's sexual development and overall sexual health is both needed and supported. Data continue to highlight the high rates of teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted disease, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections, among young people in the United States as well as the overwhelming public support for sexuality education instruction. In support of the implementation of the National Sexuality Education Standards, the current effort focuses on better preparing teachers to deliver sexuality education.
  
  
  METHODS
  An expert panel was convened by the Future of Sex Education Initiative to develop teacher-preparation standards for sexuality education. Their task was to develop standards and indicators that addressed the unique elements intrinsic to sexuality education instruction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven standards and associated indicators were developed that address professional disposition, diversity and equity, content knowledge, legal and professional ethics, planning, implementation, and assessment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The National Teacher-Preparation Standards for Sexuality Education represent an unprecedented unified effort to enable prospective health education teachers to become competent in teaching methodology, theory, practice of pedagogy, content, and skills, specific to sexuality education. Higher education will play a key role in ensuring the success of these standards.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, (ebarr@unf.edu), Department of Public Health, University of North Florida, 1 UNF Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32224-7699.
authors.forename: Elissa M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Barr
authors.forename: Eva S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Goldfarb
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Seabert
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wallen
authors.forename: Kelly L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D005178:Faculty / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D011247:Pregnancy; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards*; D012572:School Health Services; D012574:Schools; D012736:Sex Education / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D012746:Sexual Abstinence; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D014481:United States
keywords: National Sexuality Education Standards; adolescent sexual health; sexuality education; teacher education