Abstinence Education: Reauthorization Issues

Absent evidence that abstinence-until-married education works better than other abstinence education strategies (including those that provide contraceptive education), and given evidence that the approach appears to create harmful health risks for some, Congress should re-visit the provision. A key question is funding and whether and to what extent the half billion in federal and state funds spent since 1996 on a restrictive approach to abstinence education should continue. To the extent funds are made available, they should be allowed to be spent more flexibly