NEWARK, N.J. - New Jersey health and education officials recently sent a letter to HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt stating that the state will not accept about $800,000 in federal abstinence education funds. According to the letter, the requirements tied to the money violate the standards of New Jersey’s sex education and HIV/AIDS education programs, the Newark Star-Ledger reported.
The report went on to say that the state has accepted the Title V federal abstinence education funds every year since 1997, but the letter says new requirements limit the program's flexibility. According to the report, the letter added that teachers would be barred from discussing contraception and that New Jersey's AIDS Prevention Act allows contraception discussion in schools.
The federal requirements also would require teachers to say that sex within marriage is "the expected standard of sexual activity," the letter said. "Monogamy is not a bad idea, but having the government of New Jersey dictate these things for families is not something we wish to do," state Health Commissioner Fred Jacobs said, adding, "It isn't the function of the state government to create standards (for sexual activity)."
According to the Star-Ledger, California, Maine and Pennsylvania also have rejected federal abstinence education funds.
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