A quarterly international newsletter on sexuality, sexual health, and sexuality education.
Volume 1, Issue 1 Spring/Summer 2000
UNITED STATES
ONE THIRD OF U.S. SCHOOL DISTRICTS NOW HAVE ABSTINENCE-ONLY EDUCATION POLICY
A recent study in the November/December issue of Family Planning Perspectives found that over one third of U.S. school districts have an abstinence-only education policy. The results of the study were based on questionnaires sent to a nationally representative sample of 825 school district superintendents across the country. The findings showed that 69% of all U.S. school districts have a policy to teach sexuality education, and of those 14% have a comprehensive sexuality policy, 51% have an abstinence-plus policy, and 35% have an abstinence-only policy. It is important to note that data for this study was collected in early 1998 before states began implementing the federally funded, abstinence-only-until-marriage education programs. Nonetheless, the findings show that more than a third of districts with a sexuality education policy require the teaching of abstinence as the only option outside of marriage. The authors of the study added that previous research has found that more than 70% of young Americans aged 18 to 19 have initiated sexual intercourse and, therefore, "the provision of adequate and accurate information about contraception even while supporting the choice of young people who are delaying sexual initiation should continue to be a high national priority."
Taken from: SIECUS SHOP Talk, December 19, 1999, Volume 4, Issue 20
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