Sex Education
What is the state of sex education in Texas?
The Texas Education Code requires public schools to include sexuality instruction in the curriculum. According to the law, schools must promote abstinence as the “preferred choice of behavior […] for unmarried persons of school age.” They may also include information about condoms and other types of contraception.
Despite the Texas Legislature’s “abstinence-plus” approach, the overwhelming majority of school districts use an abstinence-only sex ed curriculum. The Texas Freedom Network Education Fund recently found that 94% of school districts offer no practical information about pregnancy or disease prevention. An additional 2% of districts offer no sexuality education at all. Does abstinence-only sex education work? Repeated studies have shown that abstinence-only education does not stop teens from having sex. In fact, a 2007 report by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy found no credible evidence that abstinence-only programs reduce sexual activity. Students in these programs are just as likely to have sex but much less likely to use contraception responsibly. Meanwhile, sexually active teens not using contraception are 90% likely to become pregnant, leading to 750,000 pregnancies among young women each year. And in our state? As recently as 2006, Texas has had the third highest teen birthrate in the country. What could responsible sex education look like?
Research has repeatedly shown that comprehensive sex education programs can delay sexual activity, reduce the frequency of sex, and increase contraceptive use among teenagers. Effective programs include medically accurate information about pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and contraceptives. Young people also need confidential access to reproductive health services, including birth control.
At NARAL Pro-Choice Texas, we believe that sex education should give teens a complete picture of human sexuality and encourage them to make safe, responsible decisions. And public opinion is on our side: 80% of Americans favor comprehensive sex education in public schools. This approach crosses party lines and has the support of over 140 national organizations including the American Medical Association, the National Education Association, and the American Public Health Association.
Check out the links below for more about sex education in Texas.
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