On Tuesday night, Minnesota's Senate Education Committee passed (7-3) a bill that legislators said would grant school districts more flexibility in teaching subjects other than just abstinence in sex education programs. An abstinence-until-marriage bill -- which passed a House Committee last week -- failed by a voice vote. Sen. Mee Moua (DFL-St. Paul), sponsor of the approved legislation, said her bill was needed because some parents pressuring school districts interpreted the law to mean that schools must teach only abstinence. "This brings it in line with what most Minnesotans want," which she said is a program that emphasizes abstinence, but also teaches students about contraceptives to reduce the risk of pregnancy and STDs. Legislators said the bill would not prevent districts from offering dual-track programs, where students can choose to take an abstinence-only or a comprehensive sex education class. The approved bill is expected to make its way to the Senate Finance Committee.

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