Kansas
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Kansas received $491,185 in federal funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs in Fiscal Year 2003.1
Kansas Sexuality Education Law
The Kansas Education Regulations require each board of education to provide schools with a "comprehensive program in human sexuality, including information about sexually transmitted disease, especially acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)." This instruction does not have to include information about contraceptive methods. The program must be taught at both the elementary and secondary levels by teachers who are certified in sexuality education.
The Education Regulations also require local school boards to develop procedures by which parents or guardians can remove their children from any or all of these classes. This is referred to as an "opt-out" policy.
See Kansas Administrative Regulation 91-31-20(b).
Recent Legislation
SIECUS is not aware of any recent legislation in Kansas regarding sexuality education.
Events of Note
Kansas Governor Vetoes Amendment that Would Cut University Funding Due to Sexuality Class Content; April 2003
The governor of Kansas, citing academic freedom, vetoed an amendment in April 2003 that would have cut state funding for any university department that showed "obscene" videos to students.
The amendment was added by a state senator who was concerned about materials used in a human sexuality class at the University of Kansas. The senator learned of the materials from a legislative aide who was also a student in the class and reported being offended by movies shown in class and comments allegedly made by the professor. In discussing her amendment, the senator argued that the materials were pornographic and constituted harassment of female students. The amendment passed the state legislature in April.
In addition, the state senator filed a complaint with the university against the professor. University officials publicly supported the professor and denied the senator's allegations. A university spokeswoman pointed out that the elective class had been taught to over 10,000 students by the same professor for the past 20 years without a complaint. Many students also spoke in support of the professor and collected signatures urging the governor to veto the amendment. A few students met with the governor's staff to discuss the situation.
After the governor's veto, the state senator drafted a watered-down version of her legislation which would require all state universities to draft policies on using explicit material in undergraduate human sexuality classes. This version passed and was signed by the governor.2
Kansas' Youth: Statistical Information of Note
- In 2000, Kansas' abortion rate was 12 per 1,000 women ages 15-19 compared to a teen abortion rate of 24 per 1,000 nationwide.3
- In 2001, Kansas' birth rate was 44 per 1,000 women ages 15-19 compared to a teen birth rate of 45 per 1,000 nationwide.4
Title V Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Funding
Kansas received $391,185 in federal Title V funding in Fiscal Year 2003. The Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage grant requires states to provide three state-raised dollars or the equivalent in services for every four federal dollars received. The state match can be provided in part or in full by local groups. Kansas matches its federal money with $293,389 in state funds. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment oversees this funding.
The state's Title V funding is distributed to six sub-grantees in amounts ranging from $12,565 to $65,567. Grantees include schools and county health departments. The grantees must follow all eight points of the federal definition of abstinence-only-until-marriage education. All grantees target youth ages ten to 17.
The funding also supports a media campaign titled, Self Respect is the Ultimate Contraception. This campaign includes a toll free hotline, ads on movie screens, billboards, posters, and other promotional items such as Frisbees, shoelaces, and water bottles.
Special Projects of Regional and National Significance-Community Based Abstinence Education (SPRANS-CBAE) and Adolescent Family Life Act (AFLA) Grantees
There is one SPRANS-CBAE grantee in Kansas: Abstinence Education Consultants. There are no AFLA grantees in Kansas.
The website for Abstinence Education Consultants, Inc. defines abstinence and chastity:
When educators instruct for "abstinence-only" that means the student is instructed to voluntarily refrain from ANY sexual activity until married in order to develop as a healthy, well-balanced person. That means, refrain from any genital contacts between persons and any behaviors that stimulate sexual arousal, e.g. hand or mouth to genital contacts, mutual or self-stimulation, pornographic viewing, suggestive music and dancing and provocative language.
It goes on to say:
For those persons who have an established faith in God, the practice of CHASTITY is sustained through difficult situations. Research indicates that young persons who live in an environment of family, faith and values are more likely to withstand negative peer pressure and other harmful influences.
The website also proclaims that:
We are designed as human persons to fully express self through sexual intimacy with our permanent mate, for life. Without permanent commitment of marriage, the sexual act becomes more animal than human, and persons become objects to be used for sexual pleasure.
Sexual satisfaction by oneself through masturbation is self-focused and may lead to self-centered bondage. A deep emotional connection between man and woman may become impossible. Another human person degrades to being an object, a thing to be used for pleasure and discarded at will. "I" become the one and only important being in existence and "I" am desperately alone even with sexual relationships.5
Federal and State Funding for Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs in FY 20036
Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Grantee Length of Grant | Amount of Grant | Type of Grant (includes SPRANS-CBAE, Title V, and AFLA) |
Kansas Department of Health and the Environment http://www.kdhe.state.ks.us/c-f/ab-ed.html#Profile | $391,185 federal/ $293,389 state | Title V |
| Catholic Community Services, Kansas City | | Title V sub-grantee |
| Johnson County Health Department, Olathe | | Title V sub-grantee |
| McPherson County Health Department | | Title V sub-grantee |
| St. Lawrence Center, Lawrence | | Title V sub-grantee |
| USD 438/Skyline Schools, Pratt | | Title V sub-grantee |
Abstinence Education Consultants, Inc. 2002-2003 http://www.chastemates.org | $100,000 | SPRANS-CBAE (Planning Grant) |
Title V Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Coordinator
Theresa Tetuan, RN, BSN, MSE
Adolescent Health Consultant
Children and Families Section
Bureau for Children, Youth and Families
Kansas Department of Health and Environment
1000 SW Jackson, Suite 220
Topeka, KS 66612-1274
Phone: (785) 296-1308
Kansas Organizations that Support Comprehensive Sexuality Education
American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and Western Missouri
3601 Main St.
Kansas City, Missouri 64111
Phone: (816) 756-3113
http://www.aclukswmo.org
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Kansas and Mid-Missouri
1001 East 47th St.
Kansas City, MO 64110
Phone: (816) 756-2277
http://www.ppkm.org
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
1248 Buchanan
Topeka, KS 66604
Phone: (913) 354-4823
University of Kansas Pro-Choice Coalition
c/o Student Organizations-Kansas Union
University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS 66045
Kansas Organizations that Oppose Comprehensive Sexuality Education
Kansas Abstinence Education Consultants
301 W. 13th St.
Wichita, KS 67203
Phone: (316) 688-0840
http://www.abstinenceeducationconsultants.org
Kansas For Life
2501 E. Central
Wichita, KS 67214-4511
Phone: (316) 687-5433
http://www.kfl.org
Operation Rescue West
11801 E. Lincoln
Wichita, KS 67207
Phone: (316) 683-6790
Operation Save America-Wichita
523 S. Elpyco
Wichita, KS 67218
Phone: (316) 612-3500
Newspapers in Kansas
Dodge City Daily Globe
Assignment Editor
705 Second Ave.
Dodge City, KS 67801
Phone: (620) 225-4151
Garden City Telegram
Assignment Editor
310 N. 7th St.
Garden City, KS 67846
Phone: (620) 275-8500
The Hays Daily News
Assignment Editor
507 Main St.
Hays, KS 67601
Phone: (785) 628-1081
The Hutchinson News
Greg Nucifora
Medical/Health Editor
300 W. 2nd Ave.
Hutchinson, KS 67501
Phone: (620) 694-5700
Lawrence Journal-World
Susie Fagan
Medical/Health Editor
609 New Hampshire St.
Lawrence, KS 66044
Phone: (785) 832-7150
Manhattan Mercury
Assignment Editor
318 N. 5th St.
Manhattan, KS 66502
Phone: (785) 776-8805
The Morning Sun
Assignment Editor
701 N. Locust St.
Pittsburg, KS 66762
Phone: (620) 231-2600
Salina Journal
Ben Wearing
Medical/Health Editor
333 S. 4th St.
Salina, KS 67401
Phone: (785) 823-6363
Topeka Capital-Journal
Tomari Quinn
Medical/Health Editor
616 SE Jefferson St.
Topeka, KS 66607
Phone: (785) 295-1212
The Wichita Eagle
Joe Rodriguez
Community News Reporter
825 E. Douglas Ave.
Wichita, KS 67202
Phone: (316) 268-6644
References
- This refers to the fiscal year for the Federal Government which begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2003 begins on October 1, 2002 and ends on September 30, 2003.
- D. Dailey, "Facing Controversy After 25 Years," SIECUS Report, Vol. 31, No. 6, p. 15.
- U.S. Teenage Pregnancy Statistics: Overall Trends, Trends by Race and Ethnicity and State-by-State Information, (New York: Alan Guttmacher Institute, February, 2004). Available online at http://www.guttmacher.org.
- A. Papillo, et.al., Facts at a Glance, (Washington, DC: Child Trends, February, 2004).
- Accessed online at http://abstinenceeducationconsultants.org/ on May 26, 2004.
- SIECUS was not able to obtain exact funding information for all grantees.
