RALEIGH, N.C.  – The North Carolina Senate could expand how students receive sex education in public schools.

The Senate on Monday has scheduled the first of two votes for a bill that would require schools to offer children in grades seven though nine one curriculum focused on abstinence until marriage and another with more about contraception. Parents would choose either one for their child or none at all.

The measure passed the House last month, and if there are no changes by the Senate, it would go on to Gov. Beverly Perdue for her signature.

The Senate also considers Monday whether schools must adopt detailed anti-bullying policies. The legislation is opposed by conservative Christians who said it would advance special protections for gay people.

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.

Many North Carolina parents support a bill that would let parents choose whether their children receive comprehensive or abstinence only sex education, the PPP has found.