Public school students in 5th grade and up will have access to free condoms when they return in the fall, according to the Chicago Public Schools (CPs). The typical fifth-grader is 10 to 11 years old.
“Schools that teach grade 5 and up must maintain a condom availability program” in order to “mitigate the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection, and unintended pregnancy among CPS students,” the CPS website states under “Sexual and Reproductive Health Services.”
A mere 12 out of the 638 Chicago schools are exempt from the new policy, as they only enroll students that are younger than fifth grade.