Students in New York City public schools will once again be required to take sex education classes.

For the first time in two decades, middle and high school students will hear lessons on how to use a condom and the appropriate age for sexual activity.
    
Also, children as young as 11 years of age will participate in discussions like pregnancy and the risk of unprotected sex.      

"We must be committed to ensuring that both middle school and high school students are exposed to this valuable information so they can learn to keep themselves safe before, and when, they decide to have sex," said Dennis Walcott, the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, reportedly wrote in an email to colleagues.
     
Parents have been granted permission to have their children opt out of lessons on birth-control methods.

Currently, 20 states plus Washington, D.C. require sex education to be taught in schools.