At this point, you would think that the effectiveness of comprehensive sex education would be apparent to everyone. But schools continue to be forced to choose between sex education and funding, and those researchers behind studies like the one recently published in the Journal of School Health [2] continue to fight the good fight.

This study — "Protective Effects of Middle School Comprehensive Sex Education with Family Involvement" — assesses the effectiveness of comprehensive sex education programs in delaying vaginal sex among middle school students. It also delves into the effect family intervention has on these results.

This three-year study was conducted by researchers at the Wellesley Centers for Women, who found that comprehensive sex education classes that emphasize healthy relationships and family involvement can encourage students to put off having sex. Specifically, 16 percent fewer boys and 15 percent fewer girls became sexually active by the end of eighth grade after participating in Get Real, a comprehensive sex ed program developed by Planned Parenthood, compared to the kids who didn’t participate in that curriculum.

You can read more about both the program, and the results of the study, here [3] and here [2].