Many New York City schools make morning-after contraception available to students

Even before the federal government eased restrictions on the so-called "morning after" emergency contraception pill, many public schools in New York City were providing the pill to girls. The New York Times reports that school clinics began dispensing the pills several years ago, and in the 2011-12 academic year, about 5,500 girls received them at school at least once, according to the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Students can get free emergency contraceptives such as Plan B One-Step in more than 50 high school buildings, generally in neighborhoods with high teenage pregnancy rates.