Schools would need to obtain parental consent before teaching sex education to students under a bill endorsed by a Kansas House panel.

The House Education Committee voted 10-8 to approve the bill Thursday.

Several Kansas school districts already require written parental consent, and others allow parents to request their children be excluded from such instruction. Supporters of the bill say that’s not enough, because parents are often ill-informed about what the curriculums include.

But Democratic Rep. Carolyn Bridges of Wichita said parents already have access to all the information they need and they have the right to petition their school board if they disagree with the curriculum.

Republican Rep. Ron Highland of Wamego said he expects a heated debate on the bill on the House floor.