Parents who want health teachers to explain sex to their adolescent children might see a change this year in the state Legislature.

A bill approved by the House Education Committee on Tuesday would require a two-track system for sex education in grades seven through nine. The current curriculum focuses on abstinence until marriage. The legislation would require that curriculum to continue, but also give parents the choice of a comprehensive sex education course that discusses contraception.

The abstinence until marriage curriculum now predominates in North Carolina schools because the law requires school districts that want to offer comprehensive sex education to follow a lengthy long process that includes public hearings.