Are New Jersey’s schools required to provide abstinence-only programs?
No. New Jersey schools are not required to provide abstinence-only programs. However, N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.19 et seq., known as the “stress abstinence law,” requires schools to stress abstinence as the one completely reliable method of prevention when discussing contraception. It also requires schools to address the failure rates of various contraceptive methods (Adult failure rate data is the only information currently available.). The NJCCCS require instruction regarding multiple methods of contraception; therefore, a school that chooses an abstinence-only curriculum as its only instructional program is not in compliance with the standards that specifically require students to understand abstinence, as well as contraception and disease prevention. In addition, the standards require students to carefully compare and contrast risk reduction and risk elimination methods and strategies to address internal and external pressures to remain abstinent.