Texas has one of the highest teen birth rates and the highest repeat teen birth rate in the United States, owing in a large part to the lack of comprehensive sexuality education in most Texas schools. Research shows that comprehensive, age-appropriate sex education provides young people with the tools to protect themselves from unintended pregnancy and HIV/STI-related risk behaviors. Despite Texas having one of the highest teen birth rates in the United States, the state provides little support to teen parents who struggle to navigate the balance of raising a child and pursuing an education. Pregnant and parenting students need support and respect in order to succeed in school and graduate.
- All Houston-area public schools should provide evidence-based sex education from middle school through high school.
Middle school students should receive tailored, age-appropriate sex education and young people should have access to contraception. Public schools should be encouraged to implement UT Health Science Center at Houston’s iCHAMPSS program, an interactive decision-support system for CHoosing And Maintaining Effective Programs for Sex Education in Schools. - Houston-area high schools should empower pregnant and parenting students by providing excused absences and medical leave (protected under Title IX), childcare, breastfeeding and pumping rooms, staff training on providing non-judgmental support, and information about resources for young families.
- The Houston City Council should pass a resolution strongly condemning HB 3994, which has made abortion inaccessible for many Houston young women. HB 3994, which the Texas Legislature passed in 2015, created several onerous restrictions on judicial bypass, a court procedure designed to protect abused and neglected pregnant minors considering an abortion.
