Michigan Dept. of Education Poised for Contentious Vote on New Health Standards Thursday

Debate escalates as Michigan prepares to review proposed changes to statewide health guidelines.

LANSING, Mich. The Michigan Department of Education is pressing ahead with a proposal to adopt new health education standards that critics say blur the line between health education and sex education, even though a large portion of public comment submitted to the State Board of Education opposed the changes.

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According to board members Tom McMillin and Nikki Snyder, 78 percent of the official public comments submitted were opposed to the proposed standards. The department has not indicated any plans to pause or revise the proposal ahead of the board’s Thursday meeting, where a vote is scheduled.

McMillin said he has not seen this level of public disagreement ignored in his time on the board. “In my eight plus years on the State Board of Education, I have never seen official public comment come back with a majority opposing the standards, much less then have the department continue to push for approval. I want to know why,” McMillin said.

The proposed standards would replace the health guidelines adopted in 2007. Snyder said she believes the revisions would effectively redefine sex education as general health education without adequate parental consent. She also argued that the changes undermine local control and could lead to the repeal of laws that require parental involvement in sex education.

In a joint statement, McMillin and Snyder urged their fellow board members to reject the proposed standards. “We implore our colleagues on the State Board of Education to vote down these proposed standards. We must listen to parents, concerned citizens, and teachers. This is too great of a burden on our children, on the teachers and administrative systems, and our future. We must do things in the right process by listening to the people,” they said.

Supporters of the proposed standards, however, say the update is long overdue. Education policy advocates note that Michigan’s current health standards are nearly two decades old and do not reflect modern challenges that students face, including mental health concerns, vaping, online safety and healthy relationships.

Supporters also argue that the updated framework maintains key parts of local control. Sex education instruction would remain optional, parents would continue to receive notification and would retain the ability to review materials and opt their children out of instruction.

State education officials have said the updates are designed to meet the needs of students in today’s schools. Acting Superintendent Sue Carnell has previously said that many students, including those who identify as LGBTQ, face harassment and bullying in schools and that updated standards can help create safer learning environments.

Advocates for the new standards say the revisions include age-appropriate instruction on emotional awareness, relationships, consent and healthy habits beginning in elementary grades. Middle and high school students would receive instruction related to sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. Supporters say this modernized content will help schools address bullying, mental health challenges and the realities students encounter today rather than relying on outdated guidance from 2007.

What is at stake. The State Board of Education is expected to vote Thursday on the adoption of the new standards. If approved, schools would receive an updated framework to guide curriculum decisions in health education. If rejected, the 2007 standards would remain in place, and any new effort would require restarting the revision and public input process.

The debate highlights broader divisions over parental rights, state versus local control and how schools should address gender, sexuality and student well-being. With strong opinions on both sides, Thursday’s vote is expected to set the direction for how Michigan schools handle sensitive topics in coming years.