5 ways new state guidance could update sex ed instruction in Michigan schools

Michigan school leaders are weighing new guidance for health education for K-12 students that newly include some sexual health information — drawing ire from some parents across the state.

The Michigan Department of Education drafted an update of what it calls the “Michigan Health Education Standards Framework” with a public input period that ended earlier this month.

It marks the first revamp since the last state update in 2007.

However, the framework has drawn criticism for its inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity details.

The State Board of Education has not formally signed off on the standards, though a majority of members rejected a resolution asking them to oppose the measure during a meeting last week. The body next meets Nov. 13.

The 51-page summary can be viewed online through Michigan.gov/MDE. The following are a few key takeaways about what the sex ed curriculum guidance would include if finalized.

Local control with parental oversight

Proponents of MDE’s revamp contend much of the concerns about adding new sex ed details in health instruction is based on misinformation.

Regardless of the department’s guidance, it does not mandate all the specifics to local schools. Sex education advisory boards, which require parent input, maintain a presence in districts as curriculum is updated at the local level.

Parents can opt their children out of certain areas of health instruction, including sex ed. They also have the legal right to review all sex ed and HIV-related materials.

Local districts, too, can opt out in areas.

These parameters are included in MDE’s updated framework.

Parents who oppose inclusion of specific content highlight the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor earlier this year.

The court ruled a school district’s policy not permitting opt-outs for parents who wished to remove their child from class time involving use of an LGBTQ-themed storybook was a violation of their free exercise of religion under the First Amendment.

Inclusive gender identity and sexual orientation topics

Under the potential recommendations, gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation — topics that have drawn criticism from some Michigan parents — wouldn’t be defined specifically until grades six to eight.

The framework would encourage explanations of biological sex, as well as gender identity and expression as distinct concepts and how they interact.

Students in these grades would be urged not to tease or bully others based on their sexuality or sexual activity, including abstinence.

By grades nine through 12, health students would learn how to identify and support school policies and programs promoting respect for people of all orientations, identities and expressions.

Broadening definition of sexual health

Sexual health education has historically included information about reproduction and abstinence, which are still mentioned in MDE’s latest standards.

But the definitions surrounding sexual health would be broadly expanded with more information on communication, boundaries and decision-making skills that aim to foster healthy relationships.

It emphasizes helping students understand that abuse and trauma aren’t their fault, and that they should develop healthy, non-violent ways to communicate needs and feelings, both verbally and not verbally.

Focus shift incorporates consent and personal safety

An examination of boundaries would explain why it’s important to respect consent in sexual activity and in relationships, according to MDE’s drafted update, to ensure it’s given freely and to understand it can be withdrawn.

The update also involves teaching students how to recognize and report abuse, coercion and exploitation, as well as how to locate community support resources, seeking help for oneself or others.

The framework would additionally recommend child sexual abuse prevention through “a trauma-informed lens.”

That includes in situations related to bullying, harassment or sex trafficking.

Topics broken up by grade or age level

Framework language is recommended to be oriented around what’s considered “medically accurate” and inclusive, as well as appropriate based on students’ ages — all broken up by grade levels, including kindergarten through second grade, third through fifth grade, sixth to eighth grade, and high school-aged students.

Communicable diseases including HIV, for example, would be defined by the end of fifth grade, as would how they are transmitted.

Analyzing strategies to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy would not be recommended until grades six to eight or by the end of eighth grade. Prevention measures include abstinence, delay and the use of contraception in discussions about healthy sexual behaviors, as well as giving and obtaining consent.

High school-level health education would further examine how emotions influence sexual health behaviors.

This area would recommend summarizing the importance of talking with parents, guardians, caregivers and other trusted adults about issues related to sexual health. It would also cover information about sexual assault and abuse, incest, rape, harassment, and dating and gender-based violence.

Sexual health details are not specifically mentioned in MDE’s summary for health education framework with students from kindergarten through second grade.