The new K–12 Health Standards proposed by the Michigan Department of Education introduce gender identity and sexual orientation into sex education, place sexual content inside a required Health class, and repeatedly encourage students to seek guidance from “trusted adults” outside their families. These changes raise serious concerns for parents in Dearborn and across Michigan.

Sexual orientation and gender identity are not core health topics, and they do not belong in a mandatory course. Parents are the primary trusted adults in a child’s life, and families—not the state—are responsible for guiding children on sensitive matters involving identity, values, beliefs, and personal development.

The proposed standards also conflict with existing Michigan law, which requires parental notice, curriculum review, and the ability to opt out of sex education. When sexual and identity-related content is embedded throughout a required Health class, those legal protections become unclear or impossible to enforce.

Our position is simple:
    •    Parents, not the state, should guide children on identity and personal values.
    •    Schools must follow Michigan law regarding sex education.
    •    Required Health classes should focus on safety, illness prevention, CPR/first aid, nutrition, and wellness—not ideology or controversial identity topics.
    •    The current proposal undermines family authority and damages trust between parents and schools.

What We Are Asking For

By signing this petition, we respectfully request that the Michigan State Board of Education:
    1.    Remove gender identity and sexual orientation from the proposed standards.
    2.    Eliminate the repeated “trusted adults” language that directs students away from their parents.
    3.    Follow existing Michigan law governing sex education, parental notice, curriculum review, and full opt-out rights.
    4.    Revert to the previous Health Standards currently in place, which are aligned with state law and respectful of parental rights.

Parents must remain central to decisions involving their children. The State Board should not override family authority or expand curriculum beyond what Michigan law allows.

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Michigan Laws That Protect Parents

MCL 380.10
Parents direct the moral and educational development of their children.

MCL 380.1507
Sex education must include parental notice, curriculum review, and full opt-out rights.

MCL 380.1507b
Limits what sex education may include; requires abstinence education, refusal skills, safety, and medically accurate content.

MCL 380.1506
Defines required Health class topics such as safety, nutrition, and illness prevention.

MCL 380.1506a
Requires CPR, first aid, and AED training within Health education.

MCL 380.1169
Covers HIV/AIDS instruction only; does not authorize expanded sex-education content.

Michigan Constitution – Article I, Section 4
Protects religious freedom; schools cannot require instruction that conflicts with sincerely held beliefs.