DESE's CHPE Curriculum moving forward

Following the comment period, a series of hearings

The Dartmouth Dems are pleased that DESE’s sex ed standards are finally being updated after a quarter of a century. While there are still many things that have to be fine-tuned and addressed — especially in the area of learning differences and disability — thanks to the governor and the legislature Massachusetts is making progress.

Following a comment period that ended on August 28th, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is now holding a series of meetings on the new DESE Comprehensive Health and Physical Education (CHPE) Framework:

https://www.doe.mass.edu/bese/boedate.html

For those who cannot attend in person, the meetings will be live-streamed:

https://livestream.com/accounts/22459134

The latest Health & Physical Education framework draft can be found here:

https://www.doe.mass.edu/bese/docs/fy2024/2023-09/item2.2-health-pe-framework-clean.docx

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m at 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148:

https://www.doe.mass.edu/bese/docs/fy2024/2023-09/

The frameworks had not been updated since 1999 and many of the changes and modernizations are opposed by religious groups. A summary of the comments and DESE’s responses to them can be found here:

https://www.doe.mass.edu/bese/docs/fy2024/2023-09/item2.1-public-comments.docx

There were approximately 3,250 email comments received. Of these 8% supported the DESE framework and 90% opposed it. Of the 2,910 letters opposing, 2,780 were computer-generated, most likely by the Massachusetts Family Institute or its sister organization Massachusetts Informed Parents.

Members of these groups voiced religious objections to the curriculum, concerns with using medically-accurate terminology, referring to gender identity and sexual orientation, and opposed inclusivity and a safe learning environment for all children. Some also opposed the mention of menstruation.

While DESE is sensitive to parental and religious concerns, Massachusetts law requires covering this material and DESE uses science-based standards to shape curriculum. Under Massachusetts law religious parents have a right to opt their children out of health classes and local school boards have latitude to determine how the standards are implemented. This seems like a reasonable and respectful approach to us.

Here are some of DESE's responses to the objections received:

• The standards related to sexual health are based in research and best practice in the field of sexuality education and are aligned with National Sex Ed Standards. A review of the literature of the past three decades provides strong support for comprehensive sex education across a range of topics and grade levels. Results provide evidence for the effectiveness of approaches that address a broad definition of sexual health and take positive, affirming, inclusive approaches to human sexuality.

• Sexual orientation is included as a protected class in Massachusetts law and the Department is committed to ensuring that all students have access to public school education free from discrimination.

• State law (G.L. c. 71, § 1 and G.L. c. 71, § 3) requires all public schools to teach health education and physical education, but school districts have discretion to determine how standards are implemented at the local level, including what curriculum and materials they will use. State law (G.L. c. 71, § 32A) gives parents the right to opt out their children from lessons related to sex education, a small portion of the knowledge covered in this framework.

• The standards related to gender identity are based in research and are aligned with National Sex Ed Standards.

• Both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) acknowledge and affirm gender identity as an important part of effective patient care.

• Based on feedback, standards related to gender identity, where appropriate, were separated from those related to sexuality and sexual health to more clearly acknowledge the distinction between the two concepts. The topic area covering sexuality and sexual health was renamed to “Sexual Health” to further clarify this distinction.

• Implementation supports will include best practices in teaching about gender identity and supporting gender diverse students in schools, as well as strategies for meaningful parent and community engagement.

• Additional standards have been added to the 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12 grade spans to ensure that menstruation is specifically identified. Implementation supports will include guidance on how to teach about menstruation, including when a menstruating person needs additional medical support or intervention.