ABSTRACT
Local school districts often have a need to assess parent support and attitudes about school-based sexuality and HIV/AIDS education when developing curriculum, especially given that such education can be controversial at the local level. This study, conducted in Palm Beach County Schools, Florida, employed a sample (n = 457) of longest-residing English-, Spanish-, and Creole-speaking parents of middle school students. A telephone survey, extensively pilot tested, and conducted in the primary language of the parent, found substantial concern among parents regarding the current or future sexual activity of their child; a high level of support for inclusion of specific sexuality and HIV/AIDS topics in school programs; strong beliefs in the importance of providing skill instruction to avoid pregnancy, HIV and other STDs; but ambivalence about the consequences of school-based sexuality education on the sexual activity of students. English-speaking parents were, in general, more supportive than Spanish-, followed by Creole-speaking parents. In addition, parents with higher household incomes and educational attainment levels were also, in general, more supportive than those with lower incomes and educational attainment. Study results provided the local school district with information to better understand parents' views and to reflect those views when developing curriculum.
