INCLUDE PARENTING EDUCATION

IN MODEL CORE CURRICULUM

House Bill 4238

Sponsor:  Rep. Marsha G. Cheeks

Committee:  Education

Complete to 9-19-05

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4238 AS INTRODUCED 2-8-05

House Bill 4238 would amend the Revised School Code to include parenting education in the recommended model core curriculum. 

Currently the model core curriculum includes content standards for learning objectives in math, science, reading, history, geography, economics, American government, and writing for all children at each stage of schooling.  Under the bill, these provisions would be retained and expanded to include content standards in life management, including parenting education for all children in grades seven through twelve, and in parenting for all children in grades kindergarten through grade six.

The bill specifies that the parenting learning objectives required in the recommended model core academic curriculum content standards be designed:

 

-To teach children about early childhood development, care-giving, and parenting in order to enhance students' understanding of the responsibilities of being a parent and a caring person;

           

-To teach positive ways to respond to stressful situations, and, by exposing students to care-giving alternatives they might never have experienced;

-To decrease the likelihood of children abuse and neglect;

-To integrate as much as practicable into the academic curriculum; and

-To be included beginning in kindergarten.

A district that included parenting in its curriculum could contract for the development of the curricular materials.  To the extent any instruction included sex education, that instruction could not be offered unless it was submitted to the advisory board, described in section 1507 of the Revised School Code.

State and federal funds appropriated by the legislation to support professional development could be used for programs for teachers on teaching parenting information and skills, and for integrating the teaching of parenting education into the curriculum beginning in kindergarten.

MCL 380.1278 and 380.1525

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault     

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.