Page 2 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, SEpTEmbER 22, 2023 Mass. Board of Education approves new guidelines for physical, sexual health education First time since 1999 that new frameworks have been approved Advocate Staff Report or the fi rst time in decades, the over 900,000 public school students in Massachusetts will have a new set of physical and sexual health education guidelines in the classroom. Many districts, including Everett, Malden, Revere and Saugus Public Schools, F AN include sexual health education in their curriculums. While the new frameworks have been approved, Massachusetts does not require schools to teach sexual education. It is entirely an individual choice of the 316 districts in Massachusetts. Also, individual Districts can craft their own curriculum and can choose whether they NGELO’S FULL SERVICE 1978-2023 Celebrating 45 Years in Business! FULL OR PART-TIME OIL TRUCK DRIVER WANTED Must be Class A or B CDL/Hazmat /Twic Certified. Email: Info@angelosoil.com or call number below. HEATING OI 24-Hour Burner Service Order online at: Call for Current Price! (125—gallon minimum) DEF Available by Pump! www.angelosoil.com (781) 231-3500 (781) 231-3003 367 LINCOLN AVE • SAUGUS Hours. Mon.-Wed. 6AM - 6PM / Thurs. & Fri. 6AM - 7PM / Sat. 7AM / Sun. 9AM-5PM JOHN MACKEY & ASSOCIATES ~ Attorneys at Law ~ * PERSONAL INJURY * REAL ESTATE * FAMILY LAW * PERSONAL BANKRUPTCY * LANDLORD/TENANT DISPUTES 14 Norwood Street Everett, MA 02149 Phone: (617) 387-4900 Fax: (617) 381-1755 WWW.JMACKEYLAW.COM The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education adopted new guidelines on sexual health education for the fi rst time since 1999. adopt the new standards. The new education framework will include topics of consent, LGBTQ+ inclusivity and the impact of changing technology on health. The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education unanimously voted to approve the new guidelines in a meeting Tuesday. The board voted in favor of the new standards on Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Commissioner Jeff rey Riley’s recommendation. There is also legislation moving its way through the state House of Representatives, led by state Rep. Jim O’Day (D-Worcester), the Healthy Youth Act, a comprehensive sex education bill that he has been pushing for years, which requires schools that off er sexual health education to “provide a medically accurate, age-appropriate, comprehensive sexual health education.” It still would not require sexual health education to be taught in schools and would leave that choice to individual districts. The new frameworks adopted for sexual health education in Massachusetts are more inclusive of LGBTQ+ identities and include topics like bodily autonomy, mental health, dating safety and sexually transmitted infections. This past June, Gov. Maura Healey led the push for updates to the guidelines to make them more inclusive of LGBTQ+ identities and include topics regarding bodily autonomy, mental health, dating safety, sexually transmitted infections and more. The vote came after a 60-day public comment period, where DESE received almost 5,400 responses – both in favor of and against the changes. The curriculum includes guidelines for different age groups: pre-K through second grade, third to fi fth grade, sixth to eighth grade, and ninth to 12th grade. For younger students, topics are healthy eating, hygiene, emergency response, bullying, gender stereotypes and more. Guidelines as students get older are more education about having healthy romantic relationships, gender identity, substance use and more. All who have worked on the initiative have stressed it is important students have the age-appropriate information they need about topics of sex, diversity and gender. Mayor announces Halloween Party for Older Adults All are encouraged to wear their spookiest costumes M ayor Carlo DeMaria is pleased to announce that the Council on Aging (COA) has planned the annual Halloween Party for older adults for Monday, Oct. 23, at 12 p.m. at the Connolly Center (90 Chelsea St.). You won’t want to miss this spooky celebration that off ers a delectable meal, music, dancing and much more. A boxed lunch that includes a turkey and cheese sandwich, an Italian cold cut sandwich, potato salad and dessert will be served. DJ George the Greek will get everyone moving to all the hits you love, and all are encouraged to wear costumes for a chance to win a prize. Those who are interested can sign up with Cathi beginning Thursday, October 5, until Thursday, October 19. The cost is $10 per person. For more information, please call 617394-2270 to be connected to Cathi at the Connolly Center. FLEET DIESEL TRUCK STOP
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