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.