Garrett County board reviews "Promoting Health Among Teens" supplemental materials; parents can opt out

The Garrett County Board of Education reviewed a supplemental health curriculum called Promoting Health Among Teens during its April 8 meeting, with school staff and Garrett County Health Department representatives saying the materials would be provided as an opt-in/opt-out supplement to the system’s required health class.

Mr. Edwards, a GCPS staff member who presented the materials, said the program was selected after the previous publisher sunsetted their product and that the health department’s grant covers the cost. “The program is funded through a grant through the health department, so there is no cost to the school system for this,” Edwards said. He added that materials would be available in local libraries and online for public review.

The curriculum is presented as a supplemental resource to the district’s adopted instructional materials and to state health standards; teachers and outside facilitators may also provide additional instruction. James Michaels of the Garrett County Health Department said staff have experience with the Promoting Health Among Teens program in community settings and have been previously trained to facilitate it.

A member of the public who identified themselves during public comment opposed adopting the proposed materials if the intent is to prevent teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. “All of the research, I think, everywhere has shown that abstinence only programs are ineffective at doing that,” the commenter said.

Board members and staff clarified that the packet is not the entire health curriculum; it covers specific family-life standards (standard 1c) and is a component of the broader health class that is required for graduation. Staff emphasized that parents will be notified directly and that families may opt students out of the family-life/sex-education portions while still receiving other health instruction (nutrition, exercise, digital safety, etc.). When students opt out of those lessons, an alternate assignment is provided.

The item was presented as a review; the board did not take final action on adoption at this meeting. Staff said the board will take up the item again next month and invited public feedback via the provided survey link.

Why it matters: family-life and sex-education content is often the most scrutinized component of required health classes; the district’s opt-out process and the use of outside, grant-funded facilitators were central to discussion and public comment.