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MISSISSIPPI Abstinence Education in Mississippi Mississippi is very friendly to the issue of abstinence education. State laws protect the teaching of the A-H guidelines established by the federal government for funding abstinence education. MS will soon hold a Teen Summit conference for abstinence education. Lawmakers at both the state and federal level are generally supportive of the issue. Submitted by Larry McAdoo 5/8/08 Mississippi Sexuality Education Law and Policy Mississippi schools are not required to teach sexuality education or sexually transmitted disease (STD)/HIV education. If schools choose to teach either or both forms of education, they must stress abstinence-until-marriage, including “the likely negative psychological and physical effects of not abstaining” and “that abstinence from sexual activity before marriage, and fidelity within marriage, is the only certain way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually-transmitted diseases and related health problems.” In addition, monogamous heterosexual relationships must be presented as the only appropriate place for sexual intercourse. Mississippi's Comprehensive Health Framework includes education on the prevention of STDs, including HIV for ninth through twelfth grades. Local school boards must authorize sexuality education instruction and each school must be in compliance with local regulations. If the school board authorizes the teaching of contraception, state law dictates that the failure rates and risks of each contraceptive method must be included and “in no case shall the instruction or program include any demonstration of how condoms or other contraceptives are applied.” Each school board must also appoint a health education council that makes recommendations for health education curriculum. The Department of Health must implement a “Teen Pregnancy Pilot Program” in districts with the highest number of teen pregnancies. Such programs are coordinated through the school nurse and include education on abstinence, reproductive health, teen pregnancy, and STDs. Mississippi sexuality education law also dictates that if homosexuality is taught, it must be presented as “unnatural and dangerous” and be discussed within the context of Mississippi's law outlawing sodomy.2 Parents or guardians must be notified of any sexuality education instruction and have the ability to remove their children from any or all sexuality education classes. This is referred to as an “opt-out” policy. See Mississippi Education Code 37-13-171, 41-79-5, and Comprehensive Health Framework. Parents for Truth Member Organizations in Mississippi Redemption Outreach Ministries International, Inc. Other Abstinence Education Organizations in Mississippi Booneville School District - R.I.S.E. To Your Dreams, Inc. Boys and Girls Club of Central Mississippi Boys and Girls Club of the Gulf Coast Communities in Schools Family Crisis Services of NW Mississippi Just Wait Abstinence Unit - Mississippi Department of Human Services Mayersville Youth Development Committee Mississippi Community Development Corporation The Mississippi Community Education Center Positive Living, Inc. Robert Hill Youth Foundation Save a Life of Armory/Monroe Counties Smart Choices, Smart Communities South MS Abstinence Education Program Teens in Control Youth Alive/ Alive Jones County Youth Opportunities Unlimited |