Public May Get To Comment On First MA Health Curriculum Update Since 1999

MASSACHUSETTS — Expanded school health and physical education guidance that includes instruction promoting LGBTQ+ health, personal safety choices, mental health, substance abuse and environmental health will be presented to the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education on Tuesday.

Gov. Maura Healey is proposing the framework that would be the first comprehensive update to the curriculum since 1999.

Healey said in a statement on the update that it is designed to be based in "up-to-date, evidence-based material grounded in science" that will empower students with the skills they need to build healthy lives in school and beyond.

If the Board elects to send the updates out to public comment on Tuesday there will be 60 days of comment before the draft — with any changes — is put up for a vote of adoption.

The curriculum is considered a framework for districts that teach physical education and wellness and is not required for any district.

"School districts have discretion to determine how the standards will be implemented at the local level," DESE Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley said in the statement. "We hope the framework will be a resource of lasting value for schools and districts."

The framework includes eight "guiding principles" that include promoting critical thinking and strong decision-making, inviting diverse and inclusive perspectives, dedicated physical education courses from pre-K through high school, a focus on social and emotional learning, and promoting a school-wide culture that is beneficial for all students.

Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler said the updates are "modern, scientifically backed practices for achieving mental and physical health."

"I am grateful to the health experts, educators, and DESE team members for all the work they have put into this draft framework to ensure guidelines are scientifically accurate, reflective of best practices according to experts in the field, and age-appropriate for each grade span," Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll said. "By providing our students with cutting-edge best practices around
health and wellness, we can better prepare the next generation for lifelong health."

The proposed expanded definition of health and wellness in Massachusetts comes at a time when some states are constricting curriculum that deals with sexual preference, and the active promotion of diverse lifestyles and perspectives.

"Comprehensive, consent-focused, LGBTQ+-inclusive health education is critical to supporting students' mental and physical well-being and empowering young people to make informed, health-promoting choices," Polly Crozier, Director of Family Advocacy, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defender, said in a statement supporting the changes. "The 2023 Health and Physical Education Framework emphasizes reliance on accurate sources, incorporation of diverse perspectives to ensure all students' identities are reflected, and collaboration with parents and community — including the importance of recognizing the many different types of families that exist in the Commonwealth.

"This new framework provides a much-needed update that will promote supportive and inclusive learning environments and benefit the health and well-being of all Massachusetts students."

The full draft proposal can be found here.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)