This bill would change the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. It would bar the use of funds provided under that Act to develop, implement, facilitate, host, or promote any program or activity for, or to provide or promote literature or other materials to, children under 18 that include "sexually oriented material." The bill gives an example of such material as exposing children to nude adults, people who are stripping, or lewd or lascivious dancing. It adds a rule of construction that says the prohibition does not stop use of funds for standard science coursework (for example, biology, anatomy, genetics, ecology), the texts of major world religions, classic works of literature, or classic works of art. The bill defines "classic works of art" by reference to the Smarthistory guide to AP Art History (volumes 1–5, 2019–2020). It defines "classic works of literature" by reference to the Great Books of the Western World (second edition, 1990) and two specific Compass Classroom articles as they appear on the date of enactment. The bill defines "sexually oriented material" to mean material that includes depiction, description, or simulation of sexually explicit conduct as defined in 18 U.S.C. 2256(2)(A)–(B), or material that involves gender dysphoria or transgenderism.
If enacted, recipients of funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act could not use those federal funds to create, host, promote, or give sexually oriented programs or materials to people under 18, as the bill defines those materials. The bill also lists specific exceptions (certain science courses, religious texts, and the defined classic literature and art). How the rule would be applied in local schools, what materials would be allowed or disallowed in practice, and any enforcement steps are not detailed in the bill text.
No publicly available information.
The bill, titled the "Stop the Sexualization of Children Act," was introduced to prohibit use of ESEA funds for programs or materials for minors that the bill labels sexually oriented. The sponsors framed the change as a funding prohibition with defined exceptions and definitions.
No publicly available information.