Well, now that the original diary(http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/1/19158/05085/146/582589) made the rescue list, I think its time to add some information and maybe answer some questions.
While we talk about the Bush's policy on abstinence only sex education it is important to note that it is the individual school districts that can decide on the kind of curriculum used.
Districts are restricted to the abstinence only curriculum when they accept federal money, matched with state money, to fund the services.
Outsourcing this education, bringing in "approved" abstinence only education curriculum funded with federal grants limits curriculum.
School districts can mandate that their education professionals create and implement curriculum and this can and should be a comprehensive health curriculum that includes human sexuality.
Many times this curriculum is "abstinence based". That is, abstinence is stressed as preventing pregnancy and STIs, but the students explore other aspects of sexuality including what constitutes a sex act, contraception (including the proper use of a condom), STIs, gender roles, bias, self-esteem issues, pregnancy, childbirth, and the required anatomy and physiology to understand this.
Health educators should have the professional latitude to include issues such as environmental health implications and global, local, and cultural issues. These elements are of course included as grade appropriate. You'd be surprised how even the young men sit up and take notice when we discuss how toxic organic compounds cross the placental barrier and breat milk. They become stakeholders in pregnancy and the weight of their decisions begin to take hold.
Parents and concerned citizens should examine the administration of their school districts and how the school board and superintendent is making these decisions. A vocal minority and/or school board members with a personal agenda make these decisions. School boards pressure superintendents who then pressure principals on what is and is not appropriate or worth the effort to include. For example, I worked in a district that had a small percentage of families that did not believe in organ donation. I was told to remove a link from my web page that gave information about it. However, I was "assured" the link and info about blood donation was permitted.
How much we want to be held hostage by this ideology is up to us. Communities have the power to request a comprehensive health curriculum and then treat their educators as professionals who know how to build relationships with the community, students, parents, and other stakeholders to make it happen. If not then educators should be found who will do so. Sometimes this change must be made at the top. What is the philosophy in your school district and who is making the decisions?
School districts which cannot or will not find funding to acquire curriculum that reflects the research are the districts at the mercy of the abstinence only education curriculum. We must demand more and not let a vocal minority bully our decisions and continue to put our children at risk.