Richards noted that even in schools that allow for discussion of contraception, abstinence is taught as the preferred option. These programs can be found across the country, but they are most prevalent in the South and least common in the Northeast. The district, he explained, follows the mandate set by the state. Fifteen states require that schools teach abstinence until marriage, and 13 require lessons about contraception. Some require both.
Most schools incorporate a discussion of both abstinence and birth control.
The Guttmacher study suggests districts have moved closer to abstinence education in the past several years. While there was no net increase in the number of districts with abstinence-only policies, many districts moved from a policy that made no value judgment about abstaining from sex to one that promotes abstinence as the preferred option. Research about the effectiveness of abstinence-only programs has been inconclusive, partly because they have not been around long enough to allow for rigorous research. There is some evidence that abstinence-plus programs can help prevent teen pregnancy. Most Americans seem to support programs that promote abstinence and give information about contraception.