At a state policy briefing scheduled for Thursday morning, Iowa
legislators and other state officials will be asked to end federally
funded abstinence-only sex education in the state. The move would make
Iowa the 17th state to reject Title V abstinence-only funding. Rep.
Mary Mascher, a Democrat from Iowa City, sponsored and floor managed a
bill during the 2007 session that required all sexual education taught
in accredited Iowa schools to be medically- and scientifically-based.
Signed into law last spring, the bill did not necessarily put an end
to abstinence-only sex education teaching in Iowa, but it did ratify
standards and guidelines that directly conflict with those associated
with federal funding streams.

Labels: state House, state Senate