589.020. Duties of department of elementary and secondary education--school programs--local boards have discretion. - Missouri Statutes

Duties of department of elementary and secondary education--schoolprograms--local boards have discretion.

589.020. 1. The department of elementary and secondaryeducation shall develop and establish guidelines for the teachingof sexual assault prevention and sexual assault counselingtechniques for utilization by local school districts in theestablishment of sexual assault prevention education programs.Such programs shall be adapted to the age and understanding ofthe pupils and shall be so emphasized in appropriate places inthe curriculum as to give a full and adequate treatment of thesubject.

2. Local boards of education may establish sexual assaultprevention education programs in accordance with the guidelinesdeveloped by the department of elementary and secondary educationunder subsection 1 of this section; provided, however, thatnothing in sections 589.010 to 589.040 shall be construed asmandating the establishment of such programs by local boards ofeducation; and provided, further, that no child shall becompelled to participate in any such program if the parent orguardian of such child submits a written objection to suchparticipation, on moral or religious grounds, to the principal orother person in charge of the school which the child attends.

(L. 1980 H.B. 1138, et al. § 4)