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Nixon Signs Bill Expanding Missouri Sex Education Guidance

The capitol building in Jefferson City
j. stephenconn
/
Flickr
The capitol building in Jefferson City

Sexual education classes in some Missouri schools soon must include information about the dangers of online sexual predators and sexting.

Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon on Tuesday signed legislation adding the instruction requirement for sex education courses taught at public and charter schools.

Missouri does not require schools to teach sex education. But schools that opt to teach those classes must provide medically and factually accurate information.

The new sex education guidance is set to take effect Aug. 28. Schools with instruction on sex education then must teach students about sexual predators and how to be safe online.

The legislation also calls for those classes to provide information about the consequences of sending sexually explicit or graphic text messages, commonly known as sexting.

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