An MPR News story published this week looks at what Eagan police described as an alleged “pattern of predatory grooming” by former high school music teacher Brett Benson. That conclusion came out of a police detective's report following a nearly two-year investigation.

Its allegations include that Benson paid special attention to some girls in his class, flirted with them, found reasons to spend time alone with them and exchanged private text messages with them. When some students turned 18, the text messages became sexual, according to the detective's report. The report said one student alleged that Benson made sexual contact with her on the last day of her senior year.

Police referred the case to the Dakota County Attorney's Office for possible charges. No charges were ever filed, and Benson denied doing anything inappropriate.

One of the students who talked with Eagan police and MPR News has also met with officials like state representative Liz Reyer about strengthening protections for students.

Reyer told MPR News sex education has a role to play. The state of Minnesota is finalizing new health standards to implement next year. One advocate who has been pushing for those standards to include more comprehensive sex education is Meg Bartlett-Chase. She is founder and executive director of the organization Honest Sex Ed Minnesota.

She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to share more about what inappropriate behavior like grooming looks like and whether the new standards could help students recognize it.