New York: Schools' New "Sexual Norms"

New York City has introduced a new standard sex education curriculum called "Health Smart" that is expected to be fully implemented by June 2009. In the past, the content of sex education classes was decided by individual schools.

The city has spent $203,000 on the new curriculum, which includes lessons on nutrition, physical activity, and other health topics. For middle school students, abstinence is emphasized along with some discussion of contraception. Older teens get an expansive overview of contraceptive methods and other lessons on STDs, resisting sexual pressure, and preventing HIV.

Sex education is still not mandatory, although students are required to have six lessons each year on HIV/AIDS. Since November, about 120 of the school system's 385 high schools have sent teachers for training in the new curriculum; for middle schools, the number is 44 out of approximately 590 schools.

New York City's teen birth rate is rising, and federal statistics show that 26 percent of US girls ages 14 to 19 have at least one common STD. Almost half of all public high school students report having had sex, according the New York Department of Health's latest statistics.

Dana Czuczka, an official at Planned Parenthood of New York City, considers the Department of Education's efforts a good first step. "We believe it's time that we treat sex ed as seriously as we treat math or social studies," she said. "Our hope is that every kid will be taught sex ed in every grade every year."

Studies have found that high school students in other states who took sex education lessons called "Reducing the Risk" remained abstinent longer than those who did not have the lessons. Those who did have sex were more likely to use birth control than other teens.

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