Sexuality Education Law and Policy | Recent Legislation | Events of Note | Youth Statistical Information of Note | Title V Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Funding | Community-Based Abstinence Education (CBAE) and Adolescent Family Life Act (AFLA) Grantees | Federal and State Funding for Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs | Adolescent Health Contact | Organizations that Support Comprehensive Sexuality Education | Organizations that Oppose Comprehensive Sexuality Education | Local Newspapers | References  

Rhode Island schools are required to provide “accurate information and instruction” on sexuality, HIV, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Schools must also teach “the responsibilities of family membership and adulthood, including issues related to reproduction, abstinence, dating, marriage, and parenthood, as well as information about sexually transmitted diseases, sexuality and lifestyles.” These classes must stress abstinence.

In addition, the state’s department of elementary and secondary education must “establish comprehensive AIDS instruction, which shall provide students with accurate information and instruction on AIDS transmission and prevention, and which course shall also address abstinence from sexual activity as the preferred means of prevention, as a basic education program requirement.”

The commissioner of elementary and secondary education must establish a state health education curriculum for grades kindergarten through 12. This curriculum, Rules and Regulations for School Health, is based on the Comprehensive Health Instructional and the Health Education Framework. Schools are required to use it.
      Parents must be notified of sexuality education classes and may view the curriculum by submitting a written request. Students may be removed from instruction by written notification from the parent to the principal. This is referred to as an “opt-out” policy.

See Rhode Island Statute 16-1-5, 16-22-17, and 16-22-18 as well as the Rules and Regulations for School Health, Comprehensive Health Instructional,and the Health Education Framework.

 

 

Introduced in February 2008, House Bill 7814 would have expanded state requirements for health education to include instruction on human development and sexuality for students in grades kindergarten through12. The bill would have required such education to be age-appropriate, medically accurate, and culturally sensitive. Among other requirements, the instruction would have also had to teach abstinence as “the only sure way to avoid pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases” and provide “information about the health benefits and side effects of all contraceptive methods as a means to reduce the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases including HIV and AIDS.” House Bill 7814 was referred to the House Committee on Health, Education, and Welfare and was scheduled for a hearing in March 2008. No further action was taken and the bill died.

 

 

·        In 2007, 41% of female high school students and 50% of male high school students in Rhode Island reported ever having had sexual intercourse compared to 46% of female high school students and 50% of male high school students nationwide.

 

·        In 2007, 2% of female high school students and 10% of male high school students in Rhode Island reported having had sexual intercourse before age 13 compared to 4% of female high school students and 10% of male high school students nationwide.

·        In 2007, 7% of female high school students and 15% of male high school students in Rhode Island reported having had four or more lifetime sexual partners compared to 12% of female high school students and 18% of male high school students nationwide.

 

·        In 2007, 32% of female high school students and 35% of male high school students in Rhode Island reported being currently sexually active (defined as having had sexual intercourse in the three months prior to the survey) compared to 36% of female high school students and 34% of male high school students nationwide.

 

·        In 2007, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 61% of females and 71% of males in Rhode Island reported having used condoms the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 55% of females and 69% of males nationwide.

 

·        In 2007, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 26% of females and 16% of males in Rhode Island reported having used birth control pills the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 19% of females and 13% of males nationwide.

 

·        In 2007, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 15% of females and 25% of males in Rhode Island reported having used alcohol or drugs the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 18% of females and 28% of males nationwide.

 

·        In 2007, 89% of high school students in Rhode Island reported having been taught about AIDS/HIV in school compared to 90% of high school students nationwide.

 

 

·        Rhode Island was eligible for $165,277 in federal Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage funding in Fiscal Year 2008.

·        The Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage grant requires states to provide three state-raised dollars or the equivalent in services for every four federal dollars received. The state match may be provided in part or in full by local groups.

·        Rhode Island, however, does not apply for these funds due to the extraordinary restrictions placed upon how the money must be spent. Therefore, the state does not match funds nor does it have organizations supported by this type of federal money.

 

There are no CBAE or AFLA grantees in Rhode Island. 

Rhode Island did not receive abstinence-only-until-marriage funding in Fiscal Year 2008. 

 

Jan Shedd

Rhode Island Department of Health

Division of Family Health

3 Capitol Hill, Room 302

Providence, RI 02908

Phone: (401) 222-2312

 

 

Planned Parenthood of Rhode Island P.O. Box 41059 Providence, RI 02940 Phone: (421) 421-7820 www.ppri.org	Rhode Island Alliance for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights P.O. Box 5758, Weybosset Hill Station Providence, RI 02903 Phone: (401) 521-GAYS
Rhode Island National Organization for Women P.O. Box 8413 Warwick, RI 02888 www.rinow.org	Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP) 232 W. Exchange Street Providence, RI 02903 Phone: (401) 427-2302 www.champnetwork.org

        

 

 

 

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