Understanding MI’s Radical Health Education Standards

At their September meeting, the State Board of Education introduced a new Health Standards Framework, that, if adopted would affect millions of children across the state in public and charter schools. Importantly, these standards propose teaching “sexual health” as part of mandatory, K-12 “Health Classes”, instead of optional Sex Education that is shaped by parents, pastors, and medical professionals.  Our current health standards framework focus on teaching things like hygiene, nutrition, first aid, CPR, drug prevention, and other age-appropriate things that children should know for a healthy lifestyle. The new proposed framework focuses on progressive “social health”, embedding language affirming critical theory, climate activism, “reproductive health”, and queer gender theory the curriculum. The proposed changes threaten the well-being of children, families, parental rights, and religious liberty. God-fearing people have a Biblical duty to stand in the gap and safeguard children (Matthew 18:5-6).

What Every Christian Citizen Should Know:

• The State Board of Education is side-stepping transparency laws by reclassifying “sex education” as “health education”
• There is no clear parental notice or opt out provision. Health Class is required for K-12 Students, so these standards will affect millions of children across Michigan
• Dangerous, unhealthy behavior is normalized to children—pushing sexual promiscuity, queer gender theory, and other perversions as early as 6^th grade
• Children will be taught to become activists and advocates for “social issues” that violate their family’s sincerely held religious beliefs and scientific truth

What Parents Need to Know:

• No Notice: These standards don’t require schools to notify parents before teaching about sex, sexual orientation, or gender in “health class”
• No Opt Out: These standards don’t protect the right of every parent to opt their child out
• School Discipline: Without a clear opt out provision, local districts could initiate truancy charges if a parent did not permit their child to attend
• Trust Issues: From the earliest ages, these standards require government schools to teach your children how to talk to you about their feelings and sow distrust between parents, teaching children to question if their parents are “safe” and “trusted” adults (2.2. MEH pages 15-16)

What Pastors Need to Know:

• These standards seek to remove pastors from the conversation, by reclassifying sex education as “health education”. Current Sex Education law (MCL 380.1507) requires that clergy, as the spiritual shepherds of their communities, serve on Sex Education Advisory Boards.  Health Education law has no such provision (MCL 380.1170, 380.1170a, and 380.1170b).
• Even if Sex Ed Advisory boards continue to meet, the standards proposed by the state for teaching “sexual health” require children to be taught values that clearly violate God’s Word (Genesis 1:27, Genesis 2:24, Psalm 139:13, Jeremiah 1:5, Romans 1, 1 Corinthians 7:2, Hebrews 13:4, etc.…). Thus, these standards effectively silence the clergy.

What Christian Educators Need to Know:

• These standards pose a very real religious liberty threat to those who teach health class in public schools, requiring teachers to instruct and explain to students that gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation “are distinct components of every child’s individual identity.”  (8.2.SH Page 32)
• Teachers are further required to explain to students that “romantic, emotional, and/or sexual attractions can be towards an individuals of the same gender and/or different gender(s)” (8.2.SH Page 32)
• If adopted, Christian Health Teachers will have to choose between faithfulness to God’s Word or keeping their job.
• Christian colleges and universities who train teachers will face similar hardships.    

What Legislators & School Board Members Need to Know:

• There is a clear difference in Michigan Law between “Health Education” and “Sex Education”. These proposed standards wrongly usurp legislative authority.
• Without regard for good governance, the State Board of Education proposes to  administratively enact many curriculum changes that failed to pass the legislature as recently as last year (HB 6068 of 2024).
• The standards steal local control from local Boards of Education and local Sex Ed Advisory Boards. Those closest to the children know their needs best. Health education does not receive the same level of community input, and these standards are so burdensome that even if input were allowed, local communities would not be able to substantially alter them without risking noncompliance and funding loss.

How YOU Can Help:

• Pray: Because prayer changes things!
• Participate in the Public Comment Survey here before October 10. You are not required to answer every question and can skip to the end to write your own thoughts.
• Email every member of the State Board of Education (SBE) and respectfully share your thoughts and concerns.
  1. Mr. Marshall Bullock, II – bullockm1@michigan.gov
  1. Ms. Ellen Cogen Lipton – liptone@michigan.gov
  1. Mr. Tom McMillin – mcmillant1@michigan.gov
  1. Dr. Judith Pritchett – pritchettj1@michigan.gov
  1. Dr. Pamela Pugh – pughp@michigan.gov
  1. Dr. Mitchell Robinson – robinsonm36@michigan.gov
  1. Ms. Nikki Snyder – snydern@michigan.gov
  1. Ms. Tiffany Tilley – tilleyt@michigan.gov
• Share with others: Share and encourage others to get engaged too.
• Speak During Public Comment at a State Board of Education meeting, either virtually or in person. Find details for participation at michgan.gov/mde.
  • Next SBOE Meeting: October 14, 2025
  • SBOE Meeting Where Vote Is Expected: November 13, 2025
  • Keep Reading Below for important tips on attending and giving Public Comment at the State board of Education meeting.

Tips for attending State Board of Education Meetings:

• Meetings are held at the John A. Hannah Building, 4^th Floor, at 608 W. Allegan St. in Lansing, and you can attend virtually or in person.
• Those attending in person should plan to arrive about an hour early to go through security and be escorted by security to the meeting room.
• Public comment is limited to 3 minutes. We recommend writing and timing your comment ahead of time. You will be cut off at 3 minutes.
• Meetings typically start at 9:30 am, public comment typically begins around 1 pm, and the meeting usually runs late into the afternoon. You don’t have to stay for the whole meeting.
• Those giving public comment in person go before those giving comment virtually.
• To speak during public comment, you must submit a form (that becomes available via the meeting agenda the day before the the meeting).  This form must be completed and submitted before 1pm on the day of the meeting, or you will not be allowed to speak.
• The public comment form and details for attending virtually will be published at michgan.gov/mde the day before each meeting. Contact KBussard.SLG@gmail.com if you need help finding this form.
• If you wish to share copies of your prepared comments or handouts, bring 10 copies. They can be distributed or before the public comment segment begins.
• Effective public comment should focus on what you asking the board to do and why they should do it. Most importantly, these points should be delivered with respect in a manner that honors Christ.

Compare the Health Standards Framework:

This is the 2025 Proposal for Michigan Health Education Standards Framework:

This is the currently-in-place Health Education Framework, which was adopted in 2007.

Easy to Share Resources on the Proposed Heath Standards from Salt & Light Global: