Title V, Section 510 of the Personal Responsibility and Work
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 increased funding for
abstinence-only education. Since fiscal year 1998, Title V has
allocated $50 million annually in federal funding for this type
of education, under the assumption that remaining silent about
healthy sexual activity will keep students from engaging in
sexual activity. Unfortunately, teaching abstinence from sexual
activity outside of marriage has proven ineffective and
ultimately dangerous, failing to teach student-age children how
to prevent unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted
infections, including HIV/AIDS. School-age children are still
becoming sexually involved, but because of abstinence-only
education, they lack proper information regarding their health
and safety. Having reviewed the program requirements, I
acknowledge their good intentions to prevent sexual activity in
student-age children who aren’t emotionally and psychologically
ready. Abstinence-only education programs,