On December 9, 2025, The Minnesota Department of Education published its notice of intent to adopt new K-12 health standards. Minnesota lawmakers directed the agency to create statewide K-12 health standards in 2024.

The proposed permanent rules relating to academic standards in health are vague and subvert what should be a fully transparent and participatory standards development process.

While the rulemaking process applies to broad health standards and do not include benchmarks, the “2025 Minnesota K–12 Health Academic Standards” approved by Minnesota Education Commissioner Willie Jett in December lays bare the intent of to use the rulemaking process to stealthily advance fringe theories of sexual orientation and gender identity, propagate progressive dogmas focused on social, racial and reproductive justice, downplay the importance of the nuclear family, and prioritize “equity” and “inclusion” at the expense of emotional intelligence and personal responsibility.

Read Defending Ed’s full comment below: