COLUMBUS, Ga. (AP) — A southwest Georgia school district plans to expand an abstinence program after officials say it increased the number of ninth-grade students pledging to wait until marriage to have sex.

District officials say the WAIT — Why Am I Tempted — program was introduced to ninth graders in 2009, and has increased the percentage of students saying they will wait to have sex from 50 percent to 75 percent. It's provided for free by the Pastoral Institute in Columbus.

The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reports that sixth graders in Muscogee County will be added to the program this year (http://bit.ly/VfLVQK). District officials say the program will be tailored toward the younger students.

Officials say the district also provides sex education to ninth graders as part of a health course.

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