Milwaukee Public Schools’ health officials want to make condoms freely available to students in many of the district’s high schools, as part of an effort to combat the health risks that sexually transmitted infections and other communicable diseases pose to young people.
If the proposal wins the support of the School Board, the new policy could take effect as early as next school year, making MPS one of a few districts in the nation that provide contraception to students.
Kathleen Murphy, the district’s health coordinator, said that data continues to show that middle and high school students are engaging in sex frequently and at younger ages, and that youth – especially those of color – are disproportionately affected when it comes to sexually transmitted infections.