Bill > H547

This bill updates Massachusetts health education requirements by adding "health education" to existing educational language frameworks and establishing comprehensive health education standards. The bill mandates that health education in schools must be age-appropriate and medically accurate, covering a wide range of topics including growth and physical development, nutrition, reproduction and sexuality, mental health, disease prevention, safety, substance abuse prevention, and public health. It ensures that the Massachusetts Comprehensive Health Curriculum Framework serves as a guide for local school districts in developing curriculum and instructional materials. The bill also requires school districts to adopt policies that notify parents about sexual education curricula and allow parents to opt their children out of specific portions of instruction without penalty. Importantly, the bill specifies that no MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) exam will be required for health education, and it directs a re-evaluation of the foundation budget to ensure sufficient funding for implementing these health education standards. The new requirements will take effect on July 1, 2027, giving schools ample time to prepare and implement the changes.

Education

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H547