Current state and federal issues
- Compehensive Sexuality Education (Abstinence Plus)
- Pennsylvania Abortion Control Act
Comprehensive Sexality Education (Abstinence Plus)
Did you know...?
- The cost of teen childbearing to Pennsylvania taxpayers was $389 million in 2004.
- 83% of Pennsylvania voters SUPPORT teaching comprehensive sex education in public schools over an abstinence-only-until-marriage approach.
- No abstinence-only-until-marriage program has been shown to help teens delay the initiation of sex or protect themselves when they do initiate sex.
- In FY 2007, $6,723,057 was distributed toward abstinence-only programs within the Commonwealth - programs that fail to provide Pennsylvania teens with crucial, accurate, health information.
- In 2008, a Center for Disease Control study shocked the nation with the announcement that one in four teenage girls today is infected with an STD.
What Are We Doing?
Currently, Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania is working with the Pennsylvanians for Responsible Sex Education (PARSE) Coalition to expand existing state standards for sexuality education to include comprehensive sexuality education, also called Abstinence-Plus.
In late April, two bills were introduced in the Pennsylvania State House: The Healthy Youth Act (#1163) and the Notice Home Act (#1162).
The Healthy Youth Act, introduced by Representative Chelsa Wagner (D-Allegheny Couny) would set guidelines for Pennsylvania Public Schools for teaching sex education in schools. The bill would require that curriculum:
- Provide age-appropriate, medically accurate, and non-discriminatory information;
- Teach and reinforce that not engaging in sexual intercourse is the only certain way to prevent pregnancy and to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV/AIDS;
- Provide information about the health benefits of condoms and other barrier methods as a means to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV;
- Encourage youth to communicate with family and trusted adults about sexuality;
- Teach that alcohol and drug use can affect the ability to make responsible decisions.
The Notice Home Act sponsored by Representative Eddie Day Pashinski (D-Luzerne County) which requires provision of information to parents about the content of specific public school curricula as they pertain to abstinence-only-until-marriage programs or instruction, and methods of preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
What Can You Do?
First, join our email Action Network to receive updates on Sex Education and other important issues! Click here to join PPAN or visit our wesite at http://www.ppsp.org/. On the left toolbar, click "Get Involved Locally" and go to "Take Action."
Also, join us in local advocacy efforts like lobby visits with legislators, sending a letter to the editor to your local paper, or a phone bank night talking to other voters on the importance of sex education in Pennsylvania schools. For more information, send an email to externalaffairs@ppsp.org.
If you are a parent, get in touch with your local school board to find out their sex education policies. Contact us at externalaffairs@ppsp.org if you’d like to get involved!
Pennsylvania Abortion Control Act
Public Affairs Updates
Published by the PPSP Public Affairs department, Updates highlight the most pressing issues related to reproductive health each month.
