What is the current situation with abstinence education in the US?

Despite federal financial support the picture of what takes place in schools and colleges across the United States is difficult to piece together since most policies on sex education are decided at state level and even then school districts may enjoy a considerable degree of latitude to determine exactly what form provision takes within this policy context.

However, a survey in 1999 found that all school districts with a sex education policy required that abstinence be taught and around 4 in 5 required that it be promoted as the best option for young people. About 35% not only required abstinence to be covered but either did not allow discussion of contraceptives or allowed discussion only of their failure rates. The other 51% required that abstinence be taught as the preferred option, but also allowed discussion of contraception as an effective means of protection. Only 14% had a policy of teaching abstinence as part of a comprehensive programme.

Recent research has suggested that while overall abstinence education continues to grow in influence, some states are actively seeking to consolidate comprehensive provision. As of May 2007, ten states had chosen not to receive federal funding for abstinence education 62. New York followed suit in September 2007.