Educators Call Birthrate Drop Payoff for Sex Ed. Programs

By Jessica Portner

Abstinence and better contraceptive use both have played a part in reducing the teenage birthrate, the authors of a report announcing the five-year trend said last week.

And school officials were quick to say they were pleased with the federal report's findings.

"We are delighted," said Brenda Greene, the school health director for the National School Boards Association in Alexandria, Va. "Obviously, school programs play some part in getting kids to abstain from sexual activity and increase their use of contraceptives if they are...