Overview
- The State Board of Education voted 5–2 along party lines to reject a Republican resolution that sought to stop the proposed K-12 health education standards.
- Michigan Department of Education staff are reviewing public comments and plan to bring revised recommendations to the board at a future meeting.
- The draft adds middle-school guidance defining gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation, which MDE classifies under opt-out sexual health content.
- Board President Pamela Pugh and MDE leaders warned of misinformation, emphasizing that standards do not change state law or remove district-level decisions on whether to offer sex education.
- Opponents, including Moms for Liberty and Citizens Defending Freedom, argued the framework would weave sex education into general health and cited Mahmoud v. Taylor, while supporters said the 2007 standards are outdated and need updates on mental health, technology, vaping and consent.