LONGMONT, Colo. -- The St. Vrain Valley School District is giving its school board members a lesson in sex education Wednesday night.

The lesson will feature a demonstration with male and female anatomical models and the proper use of birth control and contraceptives.

"This curriculum addresses a variety of behaviors that we know that some students choose to engage in," said St. Vrain Valley communications spokesman John Poynton. "And our intention is to ensure that all students have the information they need to remain healthy with regard to drugs and alcohol or any other risky behaviors."

In part, the district is complying with a new state law that requires school districts in Colorado to teach about contraception and sexually transmitted diseases in addition to abstinence, if the district chooses to teach sex ed.

Democratic State Rep. Nancy Todd of Aurora sponsored the bill, which passed the House and Senate and was signed into law by Gov. Bill Ritter earlier this year.

"This is not a subject that should be taught in isolation. We should be giving students all the information they need to know," said Rep. Todd.

"We should make sure our students are well informed. We want that in every other subject, why wouldn't we want it in human sexuality?" said Todd.

Some family and religious groups are still critical of the new law.

A group called the Colorado Family Institute said in a statement, "'Abstinence only' education provides a moral framework where students can process tough choices. Instead, we are throwing our hands up and saying, 'Well, they're going to do it anyway, let's show them how,'" said spokesman Jim Pfaff.

Pfaff said this is "wrong-headed" legislation and we need to turn the tide again with regard to what's morally right and wrong. He also applauded the St. Vrain School District for, at the very least, taking its material to school board members prior to presenting it in class.