The Education Policy Committee unanimously approved a motion to publish revisions to COMAR 13A.04.18 and a companion Comprehensive Health Education Framework for public comment.

MSDE presenter Michael (Mike) Semenoff (recorded in the transcript as “Mr. Semenoff”) described the draft as the product of more than a year of collaboration with the Health Education Subcommittee and contributions from health-education leaders across all 24 local education agencies and additional subject-matter experts.

Semenoff said the revised standards align with the new national health education standards developed by Shape America while retaining a Maryland-specific Standard 1 that reflects state data, public-health priorities and statutory requirements. He said the draft shifts the start of direct instruction for family life and human sexuality indicators from fifth grade to fourth grade “because research shows many students begin puberty earlier.” He added that those family-life and human sexuality indicators are opt-outable for families, while indicators on treating others with dignity under bullying/harassment remain required for all students.

Semenoff described other changes: streamlined indicators with a glossary and hyperlinks to avoid long example lists; replacing the term “marijuana” with “cannabis” to align with state law and public-health campaigns; expanded attention to mental health, coping strategies and stress management; and adding a high-school indicator requiring students to “evaluate the role and accessibility of opioid reversal methods such as naloxone,” with an emphasis on understanding and evaluation rather than requiring hands-on administration.

Committee members praised staff for incorporating prior committee feedback. One member suggested involving student groups in the public-comment stage; Semenoff said MSDE would solicit input from student organizations. After brief discussion a motion to publish the revised regulation and framework for public comment was moved and seconded and passed unanimously.

MSDE said it will support educators with guidance, professional learning and office hours as the documents move through the public-comment and final-adoption process.