On December 9, 2025, the Minnesota Department of Education published its notice of intent to adopt new K-12 health standards. On January 28, 2026, Defending Education (DE) submitted a comment to Minnesota’s Court of Administrative Hearings arguing that the proposed rules are vague and undermine what should be a public process for writing standards.
The formal rules are extremely broad and do not include grade-level benchmarks. But the “2025 Minnesota K–12 Health Academic Standards” approved by Education Commissioner Willie Jett in December show the real goal: to quietly use the rulemaking process to advance extreme theories of sexual orientation and gender identity; promote progressive ideas about social, racial, and reproductive justice; downplay the importance of the two-parent family; and put “equity” and “inclusion” ahead of emotional intelligence and personal responsibility. Florida’s health standards, which teach traits like perseverance, responsibility, and honesty, are a better model.
DE urges Minnesota to follow Florida’s lead, with a fully open standards process and health standards built on character and personal responsibility.
Read the full comment below:
