House backs comprehensive sex education classes

DENVER - Teaching abstinence-only sex education courses would be barred in all but one school district under a measure on its way to the governor.

The measure (House Bill 1292) requires that schools teach courses based on scientific research and include instruction on the health benefits and possible side effects of contraception. It received final House approval on a 39-26 vote.

Those courses can still include discussion of abstinence but the other topics must be touched on as well.

The school district in the San Luis Valley town of Center would be able to continue teaching its abstinence-only course so it won't lose a federal grant. It's believed to be the only district that gets such funds now but it's not clear how many schools teach abstinence-only programs without the help.

Republicans attacked the proposal partly because they said it violated the "local control" principle in the state constitution which says that each district be allowed to decide its own curriculum.

Schools could still decide to not teach a sex education course.