Abstract
This research examines the effects sex education has on high school age students, and provides insights on the composition of sex education programs in the United States. It specifically focuses on the different effects between abstinence based sex education and comprehensive sex education. The extant research shows that overall, the sex education system is set up to only support abstinence based sex education, even with no evidenced-based research to support its objectives. Through a multifaceted approach, the study examines the sex education curriculum, the funding sources, and the overall experience of students with such programs. A survey was administered to undergraduate students at California State University, Sacramento. This survey collected information on each student’s background, their school environment, and their experiences with sex education programs. While results did not show any statistical significance, many inferences were drawn between the experiences individuals had and the type of sex education they received.