The report also found a lack of enforcement of sexual harassment policies and bias in teen parenting programs. A critical goal of education reform must be to enable students to deal effectively with the realities of their lives, particularly in areas such as sexuality and health. 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.
One in five girls says she has been abused sexually or physically. One in four shows signs of depression, and one in four does not get health care when she needs it. The link between substance abuse and criminality appears stronger for girls, and the link between substance abuse and dropping out appears stronger for boys. The teen birth rate dropped by 17 percent among African Americans between 1991 and 1996, and by more than 9 percent among non-Hispanic whites. There was no similar decline in birth rate for Hispanic teens.