Georgia’s State Board of Education is asking for residents’ feedback regarding its proposed Georgia Standards of Excellence criteria for K-12 health education.
If approved by the State Board of Education, schools will implement the standards in the 2021-2022 school year.
“The proposed standards were developed based on a formal review and evaluation process which included opportunities for teachers, parents and families, students, business and industry representatives and committee members to participate through surveys and committees,” according to the agency’s website.
Once adopted, schools are mandated to provide students with the curriculum requirements. The proposed draft includes areas of sex education and AIDS prevention, alcohol and drug use, environmental health, nutrition and safety. Additionally it addresses the requirements for mental health, consumer health, physical fitness and family living.
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Included in the proposed plan are parental rights to choose whether their students participate in certain aspects of the programming. The plan also includes requirements for local school boards to include non-teaching parents on a committee to review sex education materials.
Originally posted for public comment June 2020, the review committees reconvened and addressed community feedback. Now the government entity is asking for additional feedback based on changes to the proposed policy found at: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Meetings/Attachment.aspx?S=1262&AID=1241347&MID=90825
The Georgia BOE recently posted a survey and welcomes feedback and comments on the changes through March 19, 2021 at 5 p.m. The survey can be completed at a separate web address found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DQ8XLV7
Questions about the proposed standards or the survey should be addressed to Program Specialist Therese McGuire at tmcguire@doe.k12.ga.us.
Shellie Smitley is a staff writer for The Augusta Press. Reach her at shellie@theaugustapress.com
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