Report on Abstinence Funds Raises Questions

By Adrienne D. Coles

New York

A year of federal funding for abstinence-only programs has had little effect on existing school-based sexuality education, a report released here last week suggests.

And in light of the report, some proponents of the law that designates money for such abstinence-only education are concerned that states have implemented programs that skirt the intent of the legislation.

The report, released here at a meeting of the Sexuality Information Education Council of the United States, says the first year of such funding did not change how information about contraceptives and sexually transmitted diseases is provided in most states. Only five--Georgia, Indiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Oklahoma--have passed laws requiring that sex education programs also teach about abstinence from premarital...