Objections to the program had been raised by the American Civil Liberties Union, which said the program promoted sexist stereotypes.

01:00 AM EST on Thursday, March 23, 2006

BY JOHN CASTELLUCCI
Journal Staff Writer

PROVIDENCE -- A federally financed abstinence-only sex-education program hasn't been approved by the state Department of Education and shouldn't be taught in Rhode Island public schools, State Education Commissioner Peter McWalters said.

The program, developed by the nonprofit group Heritage of Rhode Island, has been determined to be "NOT consistent with Rhode Island Health Education Standards," McWalters said in an advisory, which was posted on the Department of Education Web site and sent to all public school districts.

"This program therefore should not be offered as part of the public school health curriculum in Rhode Island schools," he said.

McWalters issued the advisory last week, six months after the abstinence-only sex-education program was attacked by the Rhode Island Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union.

In an interview yesterday, Rhode Island ACLU Executive Director Steven Brown said he was pleased by McWalters' decision because the abstinence-only sex-education program raises serious privacy issues, promotes "sexist" stereotypes and isolates lesbians and gays.

But Chris Plante, executive director of Heritage of Rhode Island, said the nonprofit group has been seeking Department of Education approval of its abstinence-only sex-education program since November 2004, and remains hopeful that that approval will be granted.

Plante said the abstinence-only message is being offered to supplement, not supplant, the existing HIV-AIDS curricula in the state's public schools, in which the use of condoms is taught to prevent the spread of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Plante said he was "disappointed" that McWalters issued the advisory before Heritage of Rhode Island had a chance to devise a curriculum that complies with Department of Education criteria and rules.

In his advisory, McWalters called upon school systems to submit information about the AIDS-HIV curricula they are using. McWalters said he is putting together a review panel to make sure the curricula meet the requirements of state law.

"Heritage of Rhode Island's position is that the healthiest choice adolescents can make is to refrain from all forms of sexual activity," Plante said. "That is the cornerstone of what we do. We want them to hear that message in a clear and unapologetic way."

The abstinence-only sex-education curriculum is being offered to schools in Rhode Island under a three-year, $400,000-a-year grant from the Administration for Children and Families of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The curriculum has been taught, according to Plante, at the Veazie Street Elementary School in Providence, Tolman High School in Pawtucket and Woonsocket High School, all public schools, and at Bishop Hendricken High School, in Warwick, and the West Bay Christian Academy, in North Kingstown.

Last year, when the program was offered at Tolman High School, complaints from a parent caused it to be dropped.

The parent, Tracey Ross, brought the abstinence-only sex-education program to the attention of the ACLU, which asked McWalters to investigate the program, complaining that course materials promoted sexist stereotypes and a classroom survey had the potential of invading student privacy.

jcastell@projo.com / (401) 277-7371