HB 2645 Summary

• Establishes the Health Education for Middle Schools Act of 2014, requiring health education to be taught in public schools during grade 7 or 8, contingent on legislative funding appropriation.

• Mandates instruction cover 10 minimum units: physical activity, nutrition, alcohol/tobacco/drugs, behavioral health, oral health, environmental health, growth and development, injury prevention, bullying prevention, and wellness using state-adopted textbooks.

• Allows each school district to determine which grade level and teaching methods to use, and requires instruction be offered as a separate semester course taught by certified health education teachers.

• Permits students to be exempt from instruction in specific units if a parent or guardian submits a signed statement that content conflicts with sincere moral or religious beliefs, with no credit or graduation penalties.

• Encourages school districts to partner with community-based organizations (county health departments, hospitals, extension offices) while requiring prior notification to parents and making all materials available upon request; bill becomes effective November 1, 2014.