Mississippi First supports comprehensive sex education—also known as “abstinence-plus” education—because it works.
National studies show that abstinence-only-until-marriage programs have been woefully ineffective in reducing teen birth and sexually transmitted infection rates. Students that complete these programs are as likely as their peers to engage in sexual activity before marriage and are less likely to use contraceptives when they do become sexually active.
Conversely, comprehensive sex education programs can delay sexual initiation and reduce risky sexual behaviors, such as engaging in sex with multiple partners and having unprotected sex.
Read more about our policy position here.
Mississippi Sex Education Law
In 2011, the Mississippi Legislature passed a new sex education law mandating that schools adopt a sex education policy–either “abstinence-plus” or “abstinence-only”–by June 30, 2012. The new law also contains implementation requirements that all school districts must follow such as the separation of girls and boys for sex education classes and the requirement that parents “opt-in” their child for sex ed classes.
Read the new law, referred to as House Bill 999 (HB999).
Sex Education in Mississippi
Creating Healthy and Responsible Teens Initiative (CHART)
Information for administrators, teachers, and parents on how the CHART policy will be implemented in participating school districts.
Mississippi Youth Council (MYCouncil)
The Mississippi Youth Council (MYCouncil) is a group of dynamic youth activists from across Mississippi that support and promote high-quality comprehensive sexuality education and related polices that improve the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young people.
Research, Data, and Reports
Teen health statistics and reports specific to Mississippi.
Evidence-Based Curricula
An evidence-based curriculum is one shown by rigorous research to be effective in causing one of four specific behaviors that reduce the risk of early pregnancy, STD, and HIV infection.
Health Organizations, Advocates, & Additional Online Resources
These organizations support comprehensive, or “abstinence-plus,” sex education policies and programs.
County-by-County Statistics
Learn about rates of teen birth and sexually transmitted infections as well as other relevant facts for all of Mississippi’s counties.
Sex Education Blog Posts
Who is that on John Oliver? Mississippi First!
MS becomes the next WISE State
MDE Adds New Curricula for Sex Education
CHART Update: Implementation and Parent Meetings
Citations
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance – United States, 2011. MMWR; 61(4). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/ss/ss6104.pdf.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Vital Statistics Reports. (2013). Births: Final Data for 2011. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr62/nvsr62_01.pdf#table02.
3. National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. (2012). Why It Matters: Teen Childbearing, Education, and Economic WellBeing. Retrieved from http://thenationalcampaign.org/sites/default/files/resource-primary-download/childbearing-education-economicwellbeing.pdf.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). 2012 Sexually Transmitted Diseases Surveillance. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats12/tables/14.htm (Gonorrhea) & http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats12/tables/3.htm (Chlamydia)