Committee grants waiver to pursue targeted standards review to implement House Bill 281 health changes

The Standards and Assessment Committee approved a waiver to begin a targeted standards review to implement health education changes required by House Bill 281, including adding the success sequence to health standards by the statute’s deadline.

Jody Parker, health education specialist, told the committee the legislation requires the board to add the success sequence and other specified elements to health curriculum and set a completion date no later than July 1, 2026. Staff recommended an abbreviated writing and public-review process: convene a targeted writing committee, post the proposed changes for a 30-day public comment period, revise in response to comment and bring the revised section back to the board. The committee also discussed whether a targeted revision would change the full review timeline for health standards; staff said it would not alter the scheduled full review and that the targeted process would be used only to meet the legislative deadline.

The committee voted unanimously to approve a waiver to engage in the targeted standards review process and forward the waiver to the full board for approval. Committee members asked staff to clarify timelines and stakeholder notification procedures; staff said an abbreviated process could be completed in two-to-three months if necessary to meet statutory deadlines.

The committee also discussed a proposed amendment to Board Policy 3002 to formally incorporate a targeted standards review process going forward so future legislative-driven changes can be processed without a separate waiver. The committee approved forwarding that amended policy to the board for consideration as well.