Such issues included violence, power relations, and sexuality. The report also found a lack of enforcement of sexual harassment policies and bias in teen parenting programs. In 1998, some school programs have been developed to deal with student sexuality and health issues, particularly drugs, alcohol, and violence. However, the success of these interventions is sketchy, and many issues remain unaddressed by schools. Differences among girls by race, ethnicity, and class are striking.
Schools have the potential to help students develop strengths to overcome risks and succeed.
The link between substance abuse and criminality appears stronger for girls. There was no similar decline in birth rate for Hispanic teens. AIDS education programs have been particularly successful in encouraging students to delay sexual intercourse. Dropout rates are especially high among Hispanic girls. Future programs to reduce students' vulnerability to risks such as violence and teen pregnancy should focus on building students' coping skills by drawing on their cultural strengths and resources.