On Tuesday, the Kansas Board of Education plans to review health curriculum standards, including whether to require written parental consent in order for students to be taught sex education. Currently, most schools require written parental notification to opt their children out of sex education.

Since Kansas does not test students on health, as it does with science, reading and math, the health curriculum standards that the board ultimately adopts will only have the force of recommendations to local school boards. If approved, such a change could boost the administrative burden of sex education courses and result in fewer students exposed to health information, said critics.

"Parents are the ones who, I believe, ought to be most able to control students' education," said board Chairperson Steve Abrams (R-Arkansas City), who added that some parents did not like the current "opt out" policy. "They find out there's a problem after the fact. They need to know about these things before the fact."

"This is all built upon scare tactics to create the illusion that there is no trust between schools and parents -- and to encourage that," said board member Sue Gamble (R-Shawnee). With elections next year, Gamble suspects the issue is a matter of political grandstanding. Five board members will face re-election, including four of the board's six conservatives.

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