North Dakota

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North Dakota received $91,000 in federal funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs in Fiscal Year 2003.¹

North Dakota Sexuality Education Law

North Dakota does not mandate sexuality education nor does it address what can or cannot be taught in sexuality education classes.

North Dakota also does not have a policy by which parents are notified or can remove their children from sexuality education classes.

Recent Legislation

The North Dakota legislature does not carry bills over from one session to the next. Related 2003 and 2004 bills are listed. North Dakota does not have a regular session in 2004.

Abstinence Bill Died, 2003 Session

House Bill 1398, introduced on January 20, 2003, failed to pass the House by a vote of 50 to 43 on February 17, 2003. The bill would have required that abstinence be stressed in sexuality education courses throughout the state. The bill also would have forbidden condom or other contraceptive demonstrations.

A North Dakota Democrat cited Lubbock, Texas as an example of why the legislation should be defeated. Lubbock currently has an abstinence-only-until-marriage approach and has received national attention for its high teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease rates.

Events of Note

SIECUS is not aware of any recent events of note regarding sexuality education in North Dakota.

North Dakota's Youth: Statistical Information of Note²

• In 2003, 44% of female high school students and 42% of male high school students in North Dakota 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 5% of male high school students in North Dakota 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 13% of male high school students in North Dakota 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, 35% of female high school students and 28% of male high school students in North Dakota 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 39% of males in North Dakota 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, 63% of females and 71% of males in North Dakota 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, 26% of females and 16% of males in North Dakota 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, 92% of high school students in North Dakota reported having been taught about AIDS/HIV in school compared to 88% of high school students nationwide.
• In 2000, North Dakota's abortion rate was 8 per 1,000 women ages 15-19 compared to a teen abortion rate of 24 per 1,000 nationwide.³
• In 2001, North Dakota's birth rate was 27 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

North Dakota received $91,000 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. North Dakota's funding is matched through funds from the sub-grantees. The North Dakota Department of Health oversees the funding and retains 30% for the salary, benefits, and travel of the program coordinator. All information distributed by the program must be approved by the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction.

The remainder of the funds are given to eight regional and four tribal Children's Services Coordinating Committees (R/T CSCCs) based on a number of factors including teen pregnancy, STD, and teen birth rates. The R/T CSCCs then provide grants to local groups within their regions. If the R/T CSCC of a region rejects the funding, then the region department of health may apply for it. No more than ten percent of the funding can be used for administration, another ten percent must be used for evaluations (which are conducted by the sub-grantees), and the remainder must be used for direct program activities.

Projects and target populations vary widely by sub-grantee, including Native American youth, parents, and high-risk youth.

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

There are no SPRANS-CBAE or AFLA grantees in North Dakota.

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

Title V Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Coordinator

Barb Schweitzer
Abstinence-Only Education Program
North Dakota Department of Health
600 East Boulevard Ave, Dept 301
Bismarck, ND 58505
Phone: (710) 328-4538

North Dakota Organizations that Support Comprehensive Sexuality Education

ACLU of the Dakotas
Manchester Building
112 N. University Dr., Suite 301
Fargo, ND 58102
Phone: (701) 461-7290

The League of Women Voters of North Dakota
P.O. Box 295
Fargo, ND 58107
Phone: (701) 232-6696
http://www.lwvnd.org

North Dakota Organizations that Oppose Comprehensive Sexuality Education

Diocese of Fargo Pro-Life Office
1310 North Broadway
Fargo, ND 58102
Phone: (701) 235-6429
http://www.fargodiocese.org/cef/RespectLife

North Dakota Family Alliance
4007 N. State Street, Suite #109
Bismarck, ND 58503
Phone: (701) 223-3575
http://www.ndfa.org

North Dakota Right to Life
1102 South Washington St., #110
P.O. Box 551
Bismarck, ND 58502
Phone: (701) 258-3811
http://www.ndrl.org

Newspapers in North Dakota

The Bismarck Tribune
Sheena Dooley
Medical/Health Reporter
707 E. Front Ave.
Bismarck, ND 58504
Phone: (701) 250-8225

The Daily News
Assignment Editor
601 Dakota Ave.
Wahpeton, ND 58075
Phone: (701) 642-8585

Devils Lake Journal
Assignment Editor
516 4th St.
Devils Lake, ND 58301
Phone: (701) 662-2127

Dickinson Press
Linda Sailer
Medical/Health Editor
1815 1st St. W.
Dickinson, ND 58601
Phone: (701) 225-8141

The Forum
Bob Lind
Community News Columnist
101 5th St., N
Fargo, ND 58102

Grand Forks Herald
Paulette Tobin
Medical/Health Reporter
375 2nd Ave., N
Grand Forks, ND 58203
Phone: (701) 780-1134

The Jamestown Sun
Assignment Editor
122 2nd St., NW
Jamestown, ND 58401
Phone: (701) 252-3120

Minot Daily News
Jill Schramm
Medical/Health Reporter
301 4th St., SE
Minot, ND 58701
Phone: (701) 857-1943

Valley City Times-Record
Scarlet Gray
Community News Reporter
146 3rd St., NE
Valley City, ND 58072
Phone: (701) 845-0463

Williston Daily Herald
Assignment Editor
14 4th St., W
Williston, ND 58801
Phone: (701) 572-2165

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).