Puberty Education for New York Schools
Navigate New York’s health education requirements with confidence. Puberty: The Wonder Years provides grade 4-6 educators with scripted lesson plans, family engagement tools, and online training, all aligned to national health education standards.
New York Health Education Requirements for Grades 4-6
- Sex education is not mandated statewide in New York. Districts determine whether and how to offer it.
- HIV/AIDS education is required.
- Instruction must stress abstinence as the preferred behavior for unmarried persons of school age.
- Instruction must be medically accurate.
Key New York Resources
New York State Learning Standards: Health
Official state health education standards and frameworks
State-level sex education policy overview from SIECUS
Guttmacher Institute: Sex and HIV Education
National sex education policy data including New York
New York Department of Education
State education agency resources and guidance
How Puberty: The Wonder Years Supports New York Health Education
PWY covers the core health education topics addressed in the New York State Learning Standards: Health, including human growth and development, healthy relationships, and personal safety. PWY is verified against the National Sex Education Standards (NSES, 2nd edition) and the National Health Education Standards (NHES), which New York districts commonly use as evaluation frameworks.
Family Engagement Tools
PWY builds home-school partnerships with Family Activity Sheets, parent preview materials, and a dedicated parent resources website, all in English and Spanish.
Adaptable Lesson Structure
New York districts select their own health education curriculum. PWY’s modular design lets schools choose which lessons and Add-On Lessons match their community’s needs and state requirements.
Teacher Scripts and Training
PWY provides word-for-word teacher scripts and online training so educators can teach with confidence, even on sensitive topics.
NSES + NHES Alignment
PWY is verified against national standards that New York districts use to evaluate curriculum quality.
National Sex Education Standards Alignment | National Health Education Standards Alignment
Bring PWY to Your New York District
Try a free 5th grade lesson with your class.
Request a 60-day curriculum preview for your review team.
Present PWY to your school or district curriculum committee.
PWY provides administrator guides and curriculum outlines to support the adoption process.
Get your school board’s approval and purchase.
Expertly Designed by a Certified Sexuality Educator
Crafted by Wendy Sellers, Certified Sexuality Educator (CES), Curriculum Designer, and Registered Nurse (RN), Puberty: The Wonder Years breaks the silence and stigma around puberty, providing trusted guidance for students, parents, and educators alike.
What Educators Are Saying
“Puberty: The Wonder Years doesn’t just stick to puberty, it also includes lessons on topics that I think are necessary such as bullying, and social-emotional components. There’s also a lot of scripting for really good conversation and prompts for the teachers.”
Tim Kordic, Project Manager, Sexual Health & HIV Prevention, Los Angeles Unified School District
Want to share your experience with PWY in New York? Contact us.
New York Puberty Education FAQ
Does New York require puberty education?
New York mandates HIV/AIDS education but does not require comprehensive sex education statewide. Health education, including puberty-related topics, is addressed through the New York State Learning Standards: Health. Districts determine the scope of instruction beyond state requirements.
Do I need parental consent to teach puberty education in New York?
New York provides parents the right to opt their children out of sex education or HIV/AIDS education instruction. Schools must inform parents of this right.
How do I get PWY approved for my New York school?
In New York, curriculum adoption is a local decision. Individual districts and schools select their own health education materials. Present PWY to your school or district curriculum committee, gain administrative support, and seek school board approval. PWY provides administrator guides and curriculum outlines to support this process.
Does PWY align with New York standards?
PWY covers the health education topics addressed in the New York State Learning Standards: Health. A formal standards crosswalk for New York is in development. PWY is verified against the National Sex Education Standards (NSES, 2nd edition) and the National Health Education Standards (NHES), which districts commonly reference when evaluating curriculum quality.
Is PWY available in Spanish?
PWY’s family engagement resources, including Family Activity Sheets, Family Partnership Flyers, parent letters, and the parent resources website, are available in both English and Spanish.