ABSTRACT
School is a central institution in the lives of young people, with responsibility for preparing them for productive futures. Teen parenthood is interrelated with problems of poverty and inequality in American society, particularly the economic status of women. Young women from poor families who have low basic skills achievement and those who have dropped out of school are far more likely to become teenage mothers. Adolescents in the United States have become increasingly sexually active at younger ages. The reasons for the high rates of teenage pregnancy and parenthood in the United States are multifaceted. The Guttmacher study pointed to the fact that European educational policy more commonly favors sex education, and health facilities and clinics offering contraceptive information are more accessible to teenagers. One strategy for reducing high rates of teenage pregnancy requires increasing sex education, assisting young people with decision-making, and providing appropriate health services.
