What To Know About New MA Health, Physical Education Guidelines

MASSACHUSETTS — The state's first updated health and physical education guidelines in nearly 25 years were approved by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and are designed to be LGBTQ+ inclusive, medically accurate and developmentally- and age-appropriate.

Gov. Maura Healey celebrated the updates on Wednesday as creating a framework that allows students to "make decisions that are right for their health and wellbeing."

All public schools in the state are required to teach health education and physical education, but school districts have the discretion to determine how standards are implemented at the local level, including what curriculum and materials they will use.

State law also gives parents the right to opt out of their children from lessons related to sex education, which is a small portion of the knowledge covered in this framework.

The new guidelines include instruction promoting LGBTQ+ health, personal safety choices, mental health, substance abuse and environmental health. The framework was presented to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in June and was approved unanimously at Boars's meeting in Malden on Tuesday.

This is the first curriculum update since 1999.

"This framework was approved after years of work by advocates and education leaders, and thousands of pieces of feedback," Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll said. "I'm glad to see that so many people were involved in the process, and I hope districts find this a valuable resource."

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.

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.

"We are grateful to BESE for approving that includes vital aspects of effective sexual health education," Planned Parenthood Vice President Jennifer Hart said in a statement on Wednesday. "Consent, LGBTQ+ inclusivity, and age-appropriate lessons.

"This is a major win for Massachusetts' students and educators because having a health education framework that is grounded in science and reflects national standards will help educators teach students what they need to know at every grade level and create safer classrooms for everyone."

The new framework places a stronger emphasis on practices — the processes and skills needed to promote and maintain lifelong physical, mental/emotional, and social health.

A more explicit representation and integration of physical education that recognizes the contribution that physical education makes to overall student health and well-being.

Updates to reflect changing technology when it comes to social media and other influences on health and wellbeing — including instruction on vaping, opioid use and other newer challenges to student health and decision-making.

Teaching media literacy that allows students to find accurate information in the media and on the internet.

Guidelines for teaching students about personal safety, physical and emotional boundaries, and child sexual abuse prevention, emphasizing that abuse is not the fault of the victim and that trauma can be felt in many forms over a long period of years.

A focus on key skills to identify and support students who may be experiencing struggles with mental health.

Inclusion of family and consumer science standards in health and physical education.

The standards determine what students are expected to learn and be able to do but do not restrict how educators teach that knowledge and skills.

"The framework the Board approved today is the combined result of contributions and feedback from educators, parents, community members and health and physical education content experts," Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler said. "It provides a solid foundation for school districts and health and physical education teachers."

(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.)