Montana

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Montana received $186,439 in federal funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs in FY 2003.¹

Montana Sexuality Education Law

Montana's public education system is supervised by the Montana Board of Public Education which sets standards for curricula in public schools. According to the Montana Office of Public Instruction, the Board of Public Education requires a "health enhancement" program, one component of which is sexuality education, including information about HIV/AIDS.

However, due to the autonomous nature of Montana school districts, standards for the sexuality education portion of the health enhancement program are not defined. Furthermore, there is no oversight of what is being taught nor are there standards for who are teaching these classes. As long as schools believe that they are meeting the requirements, the Montana Board of Public Education considers them fulfilled.

Parents and/or guardians must receive notification that his/her child will be attending the "health enhancement" programs. The school district sets procedures for how a parent or guardian excuses their child from a class. This is referred to as an "opt-out" policy. However, if a parent or guardian does choose to remove their child from class, they must agree to provide alternative instruction.

See Montana Administrative Rules 10.54.7011, 7012 and 7013, 10.54.2501, and 10.55.905.

Recent Legislation SIECUS is not aware of any recent legislation in Montana regarding sexuality education.

Events of Note

In 2000, Montana's then-Governor Marc Racicot (R) issued an executive order creating the Montana Abstinence Education Advisory Council. This council consisted of 19 representatives from throughout the state of Montana, including two youth representatives and one college representative and remained in place for two years. In March 2002, now-Governor Judy Martz (R) appointed a new 18-member Montana Abstinence Education Advisory Council.

Montana's Youth: Statistical Information of Note²

• In 2003, 42% of female high school students and 45% of male high school students in Montana reported ever having had sexual intercourse compared to 45% of female high school students and 48% of male high school students nationwide.
• In 2003, 3% of female high school students and 9% of male high school students in Montana reported having had sexual intercourse before age 13 compared to 4% of female high school students and 10% of male high school students nationwide.
• In 2003, 12% of female high school students and 15% of male high school students in Montana reported having had four or more lifetime sexual partners compared to 11% of female high school students and 18% of male high school students nationwide.
• In 2003, 29% of female high school students and 31% of male high school students in Montana reported being currently sexually active (defined as having had sexual intercourse in the three months prior to the survey) compared to 35% of females and 34% of males nationwide.
• In 2003, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 29% of females and 37% of males in Montana reported having used alcohol or drugs the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 21% of females and 30% of males nationwide.
• In 2003, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 55% of females and 65% of males in Montana reported having used condoms the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 57% of females and 69% of males nationwide.
• In 2003, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 29% of females and 19% of males in Montana reported having used birth control pills the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 21% of females and 13% of males nationwide.
• In 2003, 4% of female high school students and 3% of male high school students in Montana reported ever having been pregnant or gotten someone pregnant compared to 5% of female high school students and 4% of male high school students nationwide.
• In 2003, 88% of high school students in Montana reported having been taught about AIDS/HIV in school compared to 88% of high school students nationwide.
• In 2000, Montana's abortion rate was 14 per 1,000 women ages 15-19 compared to a teen abortion rate of 24 per 1,000 nationwide.³
• In 2001, Montana's birth rate was 36 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

Montana received $186,439 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. Montana matches the federal funds with in-kind matches from sub-grantees. In addition, the developers of MAPs Montana's media campaign provide more than the required amount by matching the federal funds almost two for one.

The Montana Abstinence Partnership (MAP) oversees these funds, supports a media campaign, and distributes funds to sub-grantee organizations across the state. Montana's Abstinence Partnership's website, run by the Montana Department of Health and Human Services, lists six reasons for remaining abstinent:

1. Better marriage
2. Increased self-esteem
3. Better relationships
4. Risk of pregnancy
5. Risk of disease
6. Regrets of others who didn't wait

Special Projects of Regional and National Significance-Community Based Abstinence Education (SPRANS-CBAE) and Adolescent Family Life Act (AFLA) Grantees

There are currently no SPRANS-CBAE or AFLA grantees in Montana.

Federal and State Funding for Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs in FY 2003

Title V Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Coordinator

Jon Berg
Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
Director's Office
P.O. Box 4210
111 N. Sanders
Helena, MT 59620
Phone: (406) 444-3008

Montana Organizations that Support Comprehensive Sexuality Education

Blue Mountain Clinic
610 N. California St.
Missoula, MT 59802
Phone: (406) 721-1646

InterMountain Planned Parenthood
721 N. 29th St.
Billings, MT 59101
Phone: (406) 248-3636

Montanans for Choice (education partner of Montana NARAL)
P.O. Box 226
Helena, MT 59624
Phone: (406) 449-0183

Montana Gay Men's Task Force
PO Box 7984
Missoula, MT 59807
Phone: (406) 829-8075

Montana NARAL
P.O. Box 279
Helena, MT 59624
Phone: (406) 443-0276

Montana Organizations that Oppose Comprehensive Sexuality Education

Heartbeat of the Bitterroot/Ravalli County Right to Life
Hamilton, MT
Phone: (406) 363-6710
http://www.montanarighttolife.org

Newspapers in Montana

Big Sky Journal
Laura Hengstler
Editor
101 E. Main St.
Bozeman, MT 59715
Phone: (406) 586-2712

Billings Gazette
Susan Olp
Education Staff Writer
401 N. 28th St.
Billings, MT 59101
Phone: (406) 657-1281

Bozeman Daily Chronicle
Gail Schontzler
Education Reporter
2820 W. College St.
Bozeman, MT 59718
Phone: (406) 587-4491

The Daily Inter Lake
Nancy Kimball
Education Editor
727 E. Idaho St.
Kalispell, MT 59901
Phone: (406) 755-7000

The Enterprise
John Sullivan
Editor
401 S. Main St.
Livingston, MT 59047-3418
Phone: (406) 222-2000

Great Falls Tribune
Jan-Mikael Patterson
Community News Reporter
205 River Dr. S.
Great Falls, MT 59405
Phone: (406) 791-1444

Havre Daily News
Education Editor
119 2nd St.
Havre, MT 59501
Phone: (406) 265-6796

Independent Record
Laura Tode
Education Reporter
317 Cruse St.
Helena, MT 59601
Phone: (406) 447-4081

MEA - MFT Today
Sanna Porte
Education Editor
1232 E. 6th Ave.
Helena, MT 59601
Phone: (406) 442-4250

Miles City Star
Denise Hartse
Education Editor
818 Main St.
Miles City, MT 59301
Phone: (406) 232-0450

Missoulian
Jane Rider
Education Reporter
500 S. Higgins Ave.
Missoula, MT 59801
Phone: (406) 523-5298

Montana Magazine
Beverly Magley
Editor
2222 Washington St.
Helena, MT 59602
Phone: (406) 444-5120

Montana Standard
Barbara Laboe
Education Writer
25 W. Granite St.
Butte, MT 59701
Phone: (406) 496-5519

Ravalli Republic
Jenny Johnson
Education Reporter
232 W. Main St.
Hamilton, MT 59840
Phone: (406) 363-3300

Rural Montana
Mack McConnell
Editor
501 Bay Dr.
Great Falls, MT 59404
Phone: (406) 761-8333

References

1. 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.
2. Unless otherwise cited, all statistical information comes from: J. Grunbaum, et. al., "Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance - United States, 2003," Surveillance Summaries, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, vol. 53, no.SS-2, May 21, 2004, pp. 1-95. Available online at: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dash/yrbs/.
3. 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.
4. A. Papillo, et.al., Facts at a Glance, (Washington, DC: Child Trends, February, 2004).