State Laws and Guidance
Missouri Revised Statutes § 170.015 Sex Education
- Schools are not required to teach sex ed - this decision is left with local school boards.
- If a district chooses to teach sex ed, materials and instruction are required to:
- Be medically and factually accurate
- "Present abstinence from sexual activity as the preferred choice of behavior in relation to all sexual activity for unmarried pupils."
- Teach about contraceptives, within a curriculum that promotes abstinence.
- Include information on sexual predators, sexual harassment, sexual violence, and consent.
- Schools that offer sex ed must make all curriculum materials publicly available.
- Parents have the right to remove their child from sex ed classes, known as an "opt out" policy.
Missouri Revised Statutes § 170.045 Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Education
Starting with the 2020-21 school year, each school is required to provide trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate sexual abuse training to students in 6th grade and up.
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Grade Level Expectations for Health Education
Look for these content standards:
- Reproductive System.
- Adolescent Health Issues and Sexually Transmitted Infections.
- HIV/ AIDS Prevention Education.
- Abstinence, Prevention Behaviors and Teen Pregnancy.
Missouri Revised Statutes § 573.550 Explicit Sexual Material
Providing explicit sexual material to a student is prohibited. However, the law specifies that it does not apply to materials used in sex ed classes, science courses, or as works of art.
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Adolescent and Teen Health