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GEORGIA Abstinence Education in Georgia State law in Georgia mandates public schools teach abstinence education as part of its health curriculum. Information on STDs and HIV prevention is also required. The majority of parents in Georgia prefer abstinence education for their children. The state has a strong collaboration of abstinence organizations headed by the Governor’s Office for Children and Families, formerly CYCC, which administers the Title V, Section 510 Title V Block Grant Program. Since the initiation of abstinence education in Georgia eleven years ago, pregnancy rates among teens 15-17 has fallen from 68 per 1,000 in 1994 to 36 per 1,000 in 2005, a decrease of nearly 50%. The progress Georgia has made in reducing teen childbearing saved taxpayers an estimated $227 million in 2004 alone. Abstinence Under Attack In Georgia Georgia Parents for Responsible Health Education (GPRHE) was formed in 2005 to support comprehensive sex education and to actively work against abstinence education in Georgia public schools. In February 2008, the Athens-Clarke County School Board voted to teach comprehensive sex education in district schools. GPRHE works closely with national anti-abstinence organizations including Planned Parenthood, ACLU and SIECUS. G-CAPP, another Georgia comprehensive sex ed program also opposes abstinence education. Submitted by Danielle Reudt, CYCC 5/8/08 Georgia Sexuality Education Law Since 1989, schools in Georgia have been required to teach sexuality education and sexually transmitted disease (STD)/HIV-prevention education. Local school boards are largely responsible for deciding the specific subjects this education must cover and the grade level in which topics are introduced. However, discussions on certain subjects are mandated by state law, including: abstinence, community values, STDs, HIV/AIDS, conception, and the legal consequences of pregnancy. No discussion of condoms or other forms of contraception is required, but such discussions are allowed. The law explains that local boards of education should set standards and that “such standards shall include instruction relating to the handling of peer pressure, the promotion of high self-esteem, local community values, the legal consequences of parenthood, and abstinence from sexual activity as an effective method of prevention of pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome.” Local school boards are also responsible for determining what is age appropriate. If a local school board does not have sexuality and HIV-prevention education, state funds are withheld until a program is implemented. Georgia also recommends Quality Core Curriculum Standards and Resource, which provides HIV/AIDS education resources and curricula for grades 6–12. Parents or guardians may remove their children from all or part of sexuality and/or STD/HIV education by sending written notice to the school. This is referred to as an “opt-out” policy. See the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, 20-2-143. Parents for Truth Member Organizations in Georgia Choosing the Best Publishing CYCC Stars GA SAGE Communications Services Other Organizations Providing Abstinence Education in Georgia Aim for Success Atlanta Interfaith AIDS Network Beacon of Hope, Inc Boys and Girls Club of Bulloch County City of Carrollton Housing Authority Communities in Schools Augusta-Richmond County Crowned for Victory East GA Central Consortium East Metro Health District Family Connection of Columbus Friends of Cobb Co. Commission on Children and Youth Future Foundation Marrieta Community Health Center Medical College of GA Metro Atlanta Youth for Christ Morehouse School of Medicine Operation Keepsake Project Destiny Rockdale Hospital and Health System TEARS, Inc Teen Resource Center Wholistic Stress Control Institute YMCA of Metro Atlanta |