Pennsylvania

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Pennsylvania received at least $5,801,292* in federal funds for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs in Fiscal Year 2003.¹

Pennsylvania Sexuality Education Law

Schools in Pennsylvania are not required to teach sexuality education. Primary, intermediate, middle, and high schools are, however, required to teach sexually transmitted disease (STD)/(HIV) education. Schools must use materials that are age-appropriate, discuss prevention, and stress abstinence as "the only completely reliable means of preventing sexual transmission."

Parents and guardians whose principles or religious beliefs conflict with instruction may excuse their children from the programs. This is referred to as an "opt-out" policy.

See Pennsylvania Code Title 22, Chapter 4, Section 29.

Recent Legislation

SIECUS is not aware of any recent legislation in Pennsylvania regarding sexuality education.

Events of Note

FY03 Omnibus Appropriations Bill Earmarks

Setting a new precedent for the federal funding of abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) secured earmarks of approximately $3.15 million within the federal Fiscal Year 2003 Omnibus Appropriations Bill for individual Pennsylvania abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. This was the first time a Member of Congress earmarked money for specific abstinence-only-until-marriage programs outside of traditional federal funding streams.

Pam Stenzel Presentation Cancelled Due to Board Apprehension
May 2003; Allentown, PA

Board members in Allentown, PA, cancelled a presentation by national abstinence-only-until-marriage speaker Pam Stenzel after viewing her promotional video. Stenzel was scheduled to address students at Liberty and Freedom High School but board members and administrators said they found her messages offensive and felt she came across too harsh. They were particularly upset with her suggestion that students "will pay" if they have sex before marriage. The school director said, "I found that offensive. That doesn't sound very loving to me."²

A group of parents approached the school board to protest this decision. One parent, who had sparked Stenzel's invitation by sending the promotional tape to the high school principal, was particularly upset by the change of heart. He said, "Doesn't the board feel any onus to honor the bonds committed to by their principals?"³ His 17-year-old daughter, along with several other community members, spoke and begged the school board to reconsider and let Stenzel speak to the district's high school students.

The superintendent clarified their position and said that the school board did not disagree with the premise of Stenzel's program but rather with certain parts of the presentation. He went on to say that, "public schools are not in the business of morality."⁴ The district's sexuality education program follows state guidelines and conveys to students that abstinence is the only 100 percent effective way to avoid STDs and pregnancy, but also teaches about contraception.

Students React to Abstinence Pledge Cards
May 2002, Lehigh Valley, PA

The Lehigh Valley Coalition to Prevent Teen Pregnancy provides the CHOICES abstinence-only-until-marriage program to nine-14 year olds in the Lehigh Valley School District. The program, which is funded by the state of Pennsylvania, offers students the opportunity to sign abstinence pledge cards.

While approximately 40 percent of Lehigh students chose to make the pledge, many others declined. One eighth grader ripped up his pledge card and refused to hand it in, stating, "I won't sign it because I'm going to run my life the way I want to, but I'm not going to run out tomorrow and have sex either." Several female students felt that if they didn't sign the cards, their reputations would suffer, and one stated that "we have to sign these even if we don't believe in them."⁵

Pennsylvania Youth: Statistical Information of Note

• In 2000, Pennsylvania's abortion rate was 17 per 1,000 women ages 15-19 compared to a teen abortion rate of 24 per 1,000 nationwide.⁶
• In 2001, Pennsylvania's birth rate was 33 per 1,000 women ages 15-19 compared to a teen birth rate of 45 per 1,000 nationwide.⁷

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's Youth: Statistical Information of Note⁸

• In 2003, 57% of female high school students and 71% of male high school students in Philadelphia reported ever having had sexual intercourse compared to 45% of female high school students and 48% of male high school students nationwide.
• In 2003, 6% of female high school students and 27% of male high school students in Philadelphia 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, 16% of female high school students and 42% of male high school students in Philadelphia 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, 43% of female high school students and 53% of male high school students in Philadelphia 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, 10% of females and 17% of males in Philadelphia 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, 64% of females and 76% of males in Philadelphia 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, 13% of females and 5% of males in Philadelphia 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, 9% of female high school students and 9% of male high school students in Philadelphia 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, 85% of high school students in Philadelphia reported having been taught about AIDS/HIV in school compared to 88% of high school students nationwide.

Title V Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Funding

Pennsylvania received $1,820,070 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. Pennsylvania contributes $1,365,053 to this program. The money is divided between a media campaign and community based organizations.

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

There are three SPRANS-CBAE grantees in Pennsylvania: Keystone Central District, South Hills Crisis Pregnancy Center, and Women's Care Center of Erie County Inc. There are three AFLA grantees in Pennsylvania: Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh, and To Our Children with Health.

The Keystone Central School District states that it has two main goals for its program: encouraging children to choose abstinence until marriage and focusing on parents as the "most important teacher" in the child's life. The Women's Care Center of Erie County, Inc. uses several programs geared towards specific age groups including WAIT (Why Am I Tempted) Training, R.S.V.P. (Responsible Social Values Program), and Character First! Each of these programs is intended to demonstrate that "the advantages of abstinence are well worth the effort."

SIECUS' review of WAIT Training found that it relies on shame- and fear-based messages, contains very little information on STDs, and is intended for an exclusively heterosexual audience.

Federal and State Funding for Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs in FY 2003 ⁹

Pennsylvania Title V Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Coordinator

Phyllis Welborn
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Bureau of Family Health
7th Floor, East Wing
Health & Welfare Building
Harrisburg, PA 17108
Phone: (717) 772-2762

Pennsylvania Organizations that Support Comprehensive Sexuality Education

Family Health Council, Inc.
960 Penn Ave., Suite 600
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Phone: (412) 288-2130
http://www.fhcinc.org

Family Health Council of Central PA
3461 Market St., Suite 200
Camp Hill, PA 17011
Phone: (717) 763-4779
http://www.fhccp.org

Family Planning Council
260 S. Broad St., Suite 1000
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Phone: (215) 985-2600
http://www.familyplanning.org

NARAL of Pennsylvania
225 South 15th St., Ste 300
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Phone: (215) 545-4666
http://www.prochoicepa.org

Pennsylvania Coalition to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
200 Strawberry Sq.
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: (717) 236-3366

Pennsylvania NOW
P.O. Box 32341
Philadelphia, PA 19146
Phone: (215) 726-9726
http://www.panow.org

Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition (SPARC)
1300A North 3rd St.
Harrisburg, PA 17102
Phone: (717) 920-9537
http://www.sparc-pa.org

Pennsylvania Organizations that Oppose Comprehensive Sexuality Education

Pennsylvania Family Institute
1240 N. Mountain Rd.
Harrisburg, PA 17112
Phone: (717)545-0600
http://www.pafamily.org

Pennsylvanians for Human Life
104 Forrest Ave.
The Holly Building Ste. 26
Narberth, PA 19072
Phone: (610) 667-1191
http://www.pennlife.org

Pennsylvania Pro Life Federation
4800 Jonestown Rd., Ste. 102
Harrisburg, PA 17109
Phone: (717) 541-0034
http://www.paprolife.org

People for Life
1625 West 26th St.
P.O. Box 1126
Erie, PA 16512
Phone: (814) 459-1333
http://www.peopleforlife.org

The Physicians Consortium
1240 North Mountain Rd.
Harrisburg, PA 17112

Newspapers in Pennsylvania

Philadelphia Inquirer
Paul Nussbaum
Medical/Health Editor
400 N. Broad St.P
hiladelphia, PA 19130
Phone: (215) 854-4587

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Jane Elizabeth
Education Editor
34 Blvd Of The Allies
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Phone: (412) 263-1510

Prevention
Sara Altshul
Medical/Health Editor
33 E Minor St.
Emmaus, PA 18098
Phone: (610) 967-8857

References

* Exact funding information for one SPRANS-CBAE grantee in Pennsylvania was not available to SIECUS.

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. SIECUS was not able to obtain exact funding information for all grantees.
2. G. Marshall, "BASD Approves Tentative 1-Mill Hike; Parents Protest Board Decision to Cancel Pro-Abstinence Speaker," Morning Call (Allentown, PA), May 20, 2003.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. G. Marshall, "Teens Get No-Sex Talk," The Morning Call Online, accessed online at http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all b1_4teens2may09.story on May 26, 2004.
6. 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.
7. A. Papillo, et.al., Facts at a Glance, (Washington, DC: Child Trends, February, 2004).
8. There is no statewide data for Pennsylvania. 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/.
9. SIECUS was not able to obtain exact funding information for all grantees.