RALEIGH, N.C.  – The North Carolina Senate has narrowly approved changing the public school curriculum to teach adolescents about the use of contraceptives to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

The bill approved 25-21 on Tuesday added details about what seventh-, eighth- and ninth-grade students should be taught about disease infection rates and the effectiveness of FDA-approved contraceptive methods.

The House now must approve or reject Senate changes.

The House has voted that schools teach two separate tracks – one focused on abstinence and the other on comprehensive sex education.

The Senate bill would teach all students about abstinence, then extend the course to cover contraception for students whose parents consent.