Provincetown Schools To Clarify Condom Policy

The superintendent of Provincetown schools is apologizing to parents for what she calls a misunderstanding of the district's condom availability policy.

Superintendent Beth Singer said in the e-mailed letter Tuesday that the district will revise the written policy, adopted June 8, to make it clearer that elementary school-aged students won't be able to obtain a condom if they request one from the school nurse.

The Cape Cod Times reports that she wrote it became necessary to revise the policy's wording after it was "so badly understood and misrepresented by the media."

The policy, set to take effect in the fall, appeared to set no minimum age for students to receive condoms without parental consent. The policy drew criticism from conservative groups as well as Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick.