California is in the final phase of updating its comprehensive health education curriculum framework and is actively gathering public comment on the current draft of the 2019 “Health Education Framework for California Public Schools, Kindergarten through Grade Twelve” (Health Education Framework), State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today.

The Health Education Framework is a groundbreaking document that reflects recent changes in California Education Code and is responsive to the health concerns and needs of today’s 21st century student. The Health Education Framework will provide guidance for teachers, administrators, and parents on how a curriculum based on content standards is implemented in the classroom and direction for the development of instructional materials, curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional learning.

The current draft Health Education Framework was posted on the California Department of Education (CDE) website on November 1, 2018, and includes more than 200 edits that were submitted by the public during the first 60-day public review and comment period. Each comment submitted by members of the public will be presented to the Instructional Quality Commission for review and possible inclusion into the final version of the framework during their meeting in March 2019. The State Board of Education is scheduled to take final action on the framework in May 2019.

The draft Health Education Framework has been posted on the CDE Health Education Curriculum Framework web page. Members of the public may send comments on the framework by email to healtheducationframework@cde.ca.gov. The current comment period will remain open through January 11, 2019. For more information on the development of the Health Education Framework, visit the CDE Health Education Curriculum Framework web page.