Code of Maryland Regulations
Title 13A - STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Subtitle 04 - SPECIFIC SUBJECTS
Chapter 13A.04.18 - Program in Comprehensive Health Education
Section 13A.04.18.01 - Comprehensive Health Education Instructional Programs for Grades Prekindergarten-12
Universal Citation: MD Code Reg 13A.04.18.01
Current through Register Vol. 52, No. 6, March 21, 2025
A. Each local school system shall:
(1) Provide in public schools an
instructional program in comprehensive health education each year with
sufficient frequency and duration to meet the requirements of the State
Framework for all students in grades prekindergarten-8;
(2) Offer in public schools a comprehensive
health education program in grades 9-12 which enables students to meet
graduation requirements and to select health education electives; and
(3) Provide access to the curriculum for
non-diploma-bound students.
B. Maryland Comprehensive Health Education Program.
(1) The comprehensive instructional
program shall help students adopt and maintain healthy behaviors and skills
that contribute directly to a student's ability to successfully practice
behaviors that protect and promote health and avoid or reduce health
risks.
(2) The instructional
program shall provide for the diversity of student needs, abilities, and
interests at the elementary, middle, and high school learning years, and shall
include the Maryland Health Education Standards with related indicators and
objectives as set forth in §C(1)-(8) of this regulation.
C. Comprehensive Health Education Standards.
(1) Students will comprehend
concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention to enhance health,
including:
(a) Mental and emotional
health;
(b) Substance abuse
prevention;
(c) Family life and
human sexuality;
(d) Safety and
violence prevention;
(e) Healthy
eating; and
(f) Disease prevention
and control.
(2)
Students will analyze the influence of family, peers, culture, media,
technology, and other factors on health behaviors.
(3) Students will demonstrate the ability to
access valid information, products, and services to enhance health.
(4) Students will demonstrate the ability to
use interpersonal communication skills to enhance health and avoid or reduce
health risks.
(5) Students will
demonstrate the ability to use decision-making skills to enhance
health.
(6) Students will
demonstrate the ability to use goal-setting skills to enhance health.
(7) Students will demonstrate the ability to
practice health-enhancing behaviors and avoid or reduce health risks.
(8) Students will demonstrate the ability to
advocate for personal, family, and community health.
D. Special Requirements.
(1) Substance Abuse Prevention.
(a) Students shall complete instruction on
drug addiction and prevention that includes instruction related to the heroin
and opioid addiction and prevention and information relating to lethal effects
offentanyl.
(b) This instruction is
to be delivered, at a minimum, once in grade bands 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12 as a
stand-alone program.
(c)
Instruction shall be delivered by teachers trained in the field of drug
addiction and prevention education.
(2) Family Life and Human Sexuality.
(a) Maryland family life and human sexuality
instruction shall represent all students regardless of ability, sexual
orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
(b) Beginning no later than grade 7, teaching
shall emphasize that refraining from sexual activity is the best method to
avoid sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, and unintended pregnancy.
To address the serious health risks of sexually transmitted infections, and the
consequences of unintended pregnancy, family life and human sexuality education
shall include medically accurate information about contraception and
condoms.
(c) The local school
system shall establish a joint committee of educators and representatives of
the community for the purpose of reviewing and commenting on instructional
materials. If approval of instructional materials is necessary, it shall occur
pursuant to local policy.
(d)
Direct teaching of the family life and human sexuality indicators and
objectives will begin in or prior to the grade 5.
(e) Student Opt-Out.
(i) The local school system shall establish
policies, guidelines, and/or procedures for student opt-out regarding
instruction related to family life and human sexuality objectives.
(ii) For students opting out of family life
and human sexuality instruction, each school shall establish a procedure for
providing a student with appropriate alternative learning activities and/or
assessments in health education.
(iii) Each school shall make arrangements to
permit students opting out of the objectives related to family life and human
sexuality to receive instruction concerning menstruation.
(iv) The local school system shall provide an
opportunity for parents/guardians to view instructional materials to be used in
the teaching of family life and human sexuality objectives.
(f) The local school system shall
provide age-appropriate instruction on the meaning of "consent" and respect for
personal boundaries as part of the family life and human sexuality curriculum
in every grade in which the curriculum is taught.
(g) When teaching concepts and skills related
to family life and human sexuality, in addition to general teacher preparation,
teachers are required to have additional preparation in content and teaching
methods of such depth and duration as to be appropriate for the material
taught. The additional preparation may be provided by college courses, local
in-service programs, and/or State workshops.
(3) Safety and Violence Prevention.
(a) High school students shall complete
instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation that includes hands-only
cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external
defibrillator.
(b) Students shall
participate in age-appropriate instruction on the awareness and prevention of
sexual abuse and assault. Teachers who are trained to provide instruction on
the awareness and prevention of sexual abuse and assault shall deliver this
instruction. This will include age-appropriate instruction on the meaning of
"consent" and respect for personal boundaries.
(4) Disease Prevention and Control.
(a) Students will demonstrate the ability to
apply prevention and treatment knowledge, skills, and strategies to reduce
susceptibility and manage diseases, such as infections that are sexually
transmitted, including HIV.
(b)
Students shall complete instruction in oral health that includes oral disease
prevention and dental health promotion.
(c) The local school system shall include
age-appropriate lessons on diabetes and its treatment and prevention.
E. Curriculum Documents. Consistent with Education Article, §§ 2-205(h), 4-111.2, 7-205.2, 7-401, 7-410, 7-411, 7-411.1, 7-413, 7-439, and 7-445, Annotated Code of Maryland, each local school system shall provide comprehensive health education curriculum documents for the elementary and secondary schools under its jurisdiction that:
(1) Include the standards
set forth in §C of this regulation; and
(2) Are aligned with the State Framework, as
developed by the Maryland State Department of Education in collaboration with
the local school systems.
F. The local school system shall develop guidelines and procedures for the selection of qualified health education teachers. Qualifications shall include:
(1)
Health Education certification as set forth in COMAR 13A.12.02; and
(2) Appropriate specialized training
including skills-based health education, drug addiction and prevention
education, family life and human sexuality, and awareness and prevention of
sexual abuse and assault.
G. The local school system shall develop guidelines and procedures for the support of qualified teachers. Each local school system shall establish planned and continuous programs as required to adequately train its personnel (teachers, administrators, and supervisors) in order to update knowledge, instructional materials, and methodology in health education.
H. Student Participation. Each student shall have the opportunity to participate in the comprehensive health education program required by this chapter.
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