MI Board of Education approves new health education language, includes gender identity, sexual orientation in sex ed guidance

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Members of the Michigan Board of Education voted to put in place a new set of standards and guidelines for schools when it comes to their health education curricula.

The decision was made following hours of public comment, even after the board shortened the limit for each comment to one minute, highlighting intense controversy around the proposed changes surrounding the state’s Health Education Standards that haven’t been updated since 2007.

Changes were made from what came before the Board earlier this year, staff indicated to, among other things, more clearly outline different sections of the proposal and “assure gender identity and gender expression were only under the sex education topic standards.”

For context, Michigan law gives parents the right to opt their children out of sexual education classes at no penalty to the student. However, general health classes are a requirement for graduation.

The proposed language included topics like gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, biological sex and consent, all of which could be included in a sexual education curriculum under the new language.

But some feel that the proposal blurred the lines by including elements that they felt could weave aspects of sexual education into what’s meant to guide general health education standards.

“What is [the mention of ‘consent’ in the ‘Healthy Relationships’ section], if not talking about sexual touch and activity with middle schoolers?” one commenter said.

Others expressed their support for the changes.

“Public schools do not get to choose who shows up,” another commenter said. “Our responsibility is to make sure that every student can learn an environment that is respectful and safe. Naming and teaching about topics that reflect real students lives is simply good education.”

According to the state, local education agencies use standards and guidelines to select their own curriculum for health classes.

For sex education, there are also mandatory Sex Education Advisory Boards, which must be comprised of at least 50% parents at the local level. The advisory board delivers its recommendation to the districts, which make the final decision.

On top of public controversy, state lawmakers have also begun getting involved.

On Wednesday, State Rep. Luke Meerman (R-Coopersville) moved in the House Oversight Committee to serve the state’s Department of Education with a subpoena for internal communications surrounding the proposal. Subpoena power was granted, according to Meerman’s office, and the department will have until December 2 to comply.

“My biggest question mark is, ‘Why did this Department of Education think that they needed to pull sex education outside of the curriculum that it’s made for, and put it in health curriculum?'” Meerman told 13 ON YOUR SIDE on Thursday.

“I would also love to know if there was a… group that they were speaking to about how to go around our Michigan special education curriculum and parental oversight over what’s being taught to their kids,” he said.

This is a developing story and may be updated.