Last year, the Utah State Legislature passed H.B. 281 Health Curriculum and Procedures Amendments, requiring that health instruction include information about the Success Sequence, which as the law defines it is “a three-prong framework for youth and young adults that encourages: completing at least a high school education and pursuing further educational opportunities; obtaining full-time employment; and having children within a healthy and stable family and marriage.”
Sutherland Institute is eager to see information about the Success Sequence added to Utah’s Health Education Core Standards. Right now, there is an opportunity to submit public comment on the Utah State Board of Education’s draft Health Education Core Standards.
After reviewing the draft standards, Sutherland Institute submitted the following comments.
Comment 1:
In Standard HI.HD.10, a part C should be added to emphasize the benefits of marriage and its role in the Success Sequence. Part C could say, “Identify how marriage improves health, economic, and other outcomes for adults and children, including consequences for when this part of the framework is missing.”
Comment 2:
In Standard HII.HD.10, part A should be amended to include an emphasis that “each part” of the Success Sequence is researched and discussed. The language with this addition could look like: “Research and discuss the correlation between following each part of the Success Sequence and the effects on financial stability.”
Comment 3:
We believe these additions will ensure clarity about the Success Sequence and strengthen understanding of its impacts.
We encourage others to read the current draft standards and submit public comment before the deadline of February 21. Getting involved in education policy is easier than you think. You can find the link to offer public comment here.
