Texas receives more federal abstinence-only-until-marriage funding than any other state in the nation. In 2007, Texas received $18,213,472 in federal funding, a full 27 percent more than the next highest state. Yet at the same time, Texas has the highest rate of births¹ and repeat births² to teenage girls in the nation. In 2004, teen childbearing in Texas cost taxpayers at least $1 billon.³

• What is abstinence-only-until-marriage education?
• Does Texas require schools to teach abstinence-only education?
• Does abstinence-only education work?
• What is comprehensive sex education? What would the Texas Education Works Act do?
• Does comprehensive sex education work?
• Do Texans support comprehensive sex education?
• Do America's prominent helath institutions support comprehensive sex education?
• What do other states do?

What is abstinence-only-until-marriage education?

Abstinence-only-until-marriage education solely focuses on abstinence to avoid pregnancy and STIs, to the exclusion of discussion on forms of contraception, such as condoms and birth control. Under federal law, recipients of abstinence-only funding must also teach that sex outside of marriage—for people of any age—is likely to have harmful physical and psychological effects. back to top

Does Texas require schools to teach abstinence-only education?

In Texas, it is up to individual school districts to decide whether to teach sex education. If school districts choose to teach sex education, they must do each of the following in the curriculum:

• Emphasize that abstinence from sexual activity is the preferred choice of behavior in a relationship to all sexual activity for unmarried persons of school age;
• Devote more attention to abstinence from sexual activity than to any other behavior;
• Emphasize that abstinence from sexual activity, if used consistently and correctly, is the only method that is 100 percent effective in preventing pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, infection with HIV or AIDS, and the emotional trauma associated with adolescent sexual activity; and
• Instruct students that abstinence from sexual activity before marriage is the most effective way to prevent pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and HIV or AIDS.

Additionally, while the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) requires discussion about "barrier protection" in 9th and 10th grades, state law does not mandate school districts to teach about contraception. However, when a school district chooses to include information about contraception, state law requires instruction to focus on contraceptive failure rates.⁴

Additionally, some Texas school districts receive federal funding from abstinence-only education or contract with outside organizations that receive federal funding to teach sex education in schools. These programs are required by federal law to focus exclusively on abstinence until marriage. back to top

Does abstinence-only education work?

Study after study has shown that abstinence-only education is ineffective. A study commissioned by the federal government found that abstinence-only instruction has no effect on modifying sexual behavior or reducing teen pregnancy.⁵ A separate, more recent study by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy found that there is little evidence that abstinence-only education delays the initiation of sex, increases the return to abstinence or decreases the number of sexual partners.⁶ Likewise, a Texas A&M study commissioned by the Texas Department of State Health Services in 2005 found that abstinence-only programs have little impact on teen sexual behavior.

In short, in spite of billions of public dollars committed to abstinence-only education, all reliable research has shown that it does not work.  back to top

What is comprehensive sex education? What would the Texas Education Works Act do?

Comprehensive sex education teaches students about abstinence and contraceptive methods. The Education Works Act would require schools that teach sex education to provide medically accurate information that stresses the importance of abstinence as the only 100% effective method of avoiding STIs and pregnancy, while also teaching about contraceptive methods to avoid STIs and pregnancy. back to top

Does comprehensive sex education work?

Yes. Students in comprehensive sexuality education classes do not engage in sexual activity more often or earlier, but do use contraception and practice safer sex more consistently when they become sexually active.⁷ back to top

Do Texans support comprehensive sex education?

Yes, overwhelmingly. A 2004 Scripps Howard Poll found that 90% of Texans surveyed favored teaching public school students age-appropriate, medically accurate sex education that includes information on abstinence, birth control and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. A 2008 poll of female Hispanic voters in Texas found that 83% favor teaching students in public schools about the role birth control and condoms play in preventing teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.⁸ back to top

America’s most prominent health institutions also support comprehensive sex education, including:

• American Medical Association
• American Academy of Pediatrics
• American Psychological Association
• American Public Health Association
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• American Nurses Association
• Society for Adolescent Medicine
• National Institutes of Health
• Institute of Medicine
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  
• Child Welfare League of America
• National Association of County and City Health Officials
• National Council on Family Relations, National School Boards Association
• National Council of Churches
• YWCA of the U.S.A

What do other states do?

A rapidly increasing number of states are opting out of abstinence-only funding altogether. As of August 2008, 25 states no longer participate in the Title V abstinence-only funding program.⁹ These states include Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington, DC, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. back to top

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