Increases in Student Knowledge and Protective Behaviors Following Enhanced Supports for Sexual Health Education in a Large, Urban School District.

Purpose: School-based sexual health education (SHE) can teach students critical knowledge and skills. For effective SHE, school districts can offer support, including strong curricula and professional development. This study assessed changes in students' sexual health knowledge and sexual behaviors following implementation of enhanced support for SHE delivery in one school district.

School Climate Among Transgender High School Students: An Exploration of School Connectedness, Perceived Safety, Bullying, and Absenteeism.

This study used self-administered survey data from seven high schools in Florida with a majority Black and/or Hispanic sample to examine transgender students' perceptions and experiences related to school climate in comparison to cisgender students. Using propensity score matching, a matched analytic sample was created of transgender and cisgender students ( = 542, including 186 transgender youth). Adjusted weighted logistic regression models indicated that transgender students were significantly more likely to report ever being bullied at school, being bullied in the past 3 months, and not going to school ≥3 days during the past 30 days.

Student-Reported School Safety Perceptions, Connectedness, and Absenteeism Following a Multiple-Fatality School Shooting - Broward County, Florida, February 14-21, 2018.

From July 2009 to June 2018, the rates of multiple-victim, school-associated homicides in the United States fluctuated substantially, with evidence of a significant increase in recent years (1). Data on the effects of such incidents on students' school attendance and perceptions of safety and connectedness are limited (2,3) but important. This study used data from a neighboring within-district school before and after a multiple-fatality shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on February 14, 2018.

Sexual Behaviors, Referral to Sexual Health Services, and Use of Sexual Health Services Among Transgender High School Students.

Background: Transgender adolescents are at increased risk for negative sexual health outcomes compared to their cisgender peers.

Methods: Using data from 10,231 students from 7 high schools in a large, urban school district, our analysis compared sexual behaviors, referral to sexual health services by school staff, and use of sexual health services between transgender and cisgender students. We used propensity score matching to create a comparable sample of transgender and cisgender students and logistic regression models to examine how gender identity was associated with aforementioned outcomes.

The Influence of Health Education Teacher Characteristics on Students' Health-Related Knowledge Gains.

Background: Studies have examined relationships between teacher characteristics and student achievement in courses such as math and science. This study is among the first to examine effects of teacher characteristics on student knowledge in a health course.

Methods: Student (N = 6143) pretest and posttest data were linked to teacher (N = 67) data.

Sex Differences in School Safety and Bullying Experiences Among Sexual Minority Youth.

Schools play an integral role in creating safe, supportive environments for students, especially for sexual minority youth (SMY). Using 2016 questionnaire data from seven high schools in a Florida school district, we obtained a sample of 1,364 SMY. Logistic regressions controlling for sex (as applicable), age, grade, race/ethnicity, and school explored differences between SMY and nonsexual minority youth (non-SMY).

Associations Between Sexual Risk-Related Behaviors and School-Based Education on HIV and Condom Use for Adolescent Sexual Minority Males and Their Non-Sexual-Minority Peers.

Purpose: With HIV and sexually transmitted disease (STD) rates disproportionately high among adolescent sexual minority males (ASMM), it is important to understand how school-based sexual health education may relate to sexual risk-related behavior among this population. This analysis explores reported HIV/AIDS- and condom-related education and sexual risk-related behaviors among ASMM and their adolescent non-sexual-minority male (non-ASMM) peers.

Methods: Students (n = 11,681) from seven Florida high schools completed paper-and-pencil questionnaires.