An Evaluation of the Sex Can Wait Abstinence Education Curriculum Series

The Sex Can Wait curriculum series is a life skills theory-based sexual abstinence curriculum series in which students participate in role plays cooperative learning groups and other learning activities as well as parent-child homework. The series has components for grades 5-6 (upper elementary) grades 7-8 (middle school) and grades 9-12 (high school) and consists of 23-24 lessons at each of the 3 educational levels over a 5-week period. Findings are presented from an impact evaluation of the curriculum upon the sexuality-related knowledge attitudes and beliefs of participating students from 8 school districts. Students from 7 other school districts comprised the comparison control group. Pre- and post-test data were obtained from 963 upper elementary students 680 middle school students and 692 high school students. At the upper elementary and middle school levels the curriculum produced significant gains in knowledge and more positive attitudes toward abstinence. However at the high school level no significant differences were found between the intervention and control groups.