STD/HIV Education in Public Schools

Along with sexuality education, STD/HIV education is one of the best ways to reduce and prevent unintended pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS. (1)

  • STD/HIV Education in Public Schools

      Strength Of Policy 2007 Change From 2004
    ALABAMA Meets Policy Same
    ALASKA No/Harmful Policy Worse
    ARIZONA No/Harmful Policy Same
    ARKANSAS No/Harmful Policy Same
    CALIFORNIA Meets Policy Same
    COLORADO No/Harmful Policy Same
    CONNECTICUT Meets Policy Same
    DELAWARE Meets Policy Same
    DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Meets Policy Same
    FLORIDA Meets Policy Same
    GEORGIA Meets Policy Same
    HAWAII Meets Policy Same
    IDAHO No/Harmful Policy Same
    ILLINOIS No/Harmful Policy Worse
    INDIANA Meets Policy Same
    IOWA Meets Policy Same
    KANSAS Meets Policy Same
    KENTUCKY Meets Policy Same
    LOUISIANA No/Harmful Policy Same
    MAINE Meets Policy Same
    MARYLAND Meets Policy Same
    MASSACHUSETTS No/Harmful Policy Same
    MICHIGAN Meets Policy Same
    MINNESOTA Meets Policy Same
    MISSISSIPPI No/Harmful Policy Same
    MISSOURI Meets Policy Same
    MONTANA Meets Policy Better
    NEBRASKA No/Harmful Policy Same
    NEVADA Meets Policy Same
    NEW HAMPSHIRE Meets Policy Same
    NEW JERSEY Meets Policy Same
    NEW MEXICO Meets Policy Same
    NEW YORK Meets Policy Same
    NORTH CAROLINA Meets Policy Same
    NORTH DAKOTA No/Harmful Policy Worse
    OHIO Meets Policy Same
    OKLAHOMA Meets Policy Same
    OREGON Meets Policy Same
    PENNSYLVANIA Meets Policy Same
    RHODE ISLAND Meets Policy Same
    SOUTH CAROLINA Meets Policy Same
    SOUTH DAKOTA No/Harmful Policy Same
    TENNESSEE Meets Policy Same
    TEXAS No/Harmful Policy Same
    UTAH Meets Policy Same
    VERMONT Meets Policy Same
    VIRGINIA No/Harmful Policy Same
    WASHINGTON Meets Policy Same
    WEST VIRGINIA Meets Policy Same
    WISCONSIN Meets Policy Same
    WYOMING No/Harmful Policy Worse
     
    Meets PolicyMeets Policy 36  
    Limited PolicyLimited Policy 0  
    Weak PolicyWeak Policy 0  
    No/Harmful PolicyNo/Harmful Policy 15  
    Better Better 1  
    Worse Worse 4  
    Same Same 46  

    Does the state require that STD/HIV education be taught?

    States receive a "meets policy" if they require public schools to offer STD/HIV education. States that have no such requirements receive a "no policy."

    Data Source: STD/HIV Education in Public Schools, 2007.

    Guttmacher Institute, State Policies in Brief, "Sex and STD/HIV Education," May 2007, available at http://www.guttmacher.org/statecenter/spibs/spib_SE.pdf, accessed May 4, 2007.
     

1. A 2001 report confirmed that programs that include information on contraception do not increase sexual activity, and some have been shown to reduce or delay sexual activity. Douglas Kirby, Emerging Answers: Research Findings on Programs to Reduce Teen Pregnancy (Washington: The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, May 2001).