Opponents of the Montgomery County, Md., sex education curriculum on Tuesday filed an appeal in Montgomery County Circuit Court requesting that the lessons not be taught, the Washington Post reports (de Vise, Washington Post, 9/5). The curriculum, approved first as a pilot program by the Montgomery Board of Education in January, teaches eighth- and 10th-grade students about sexual- and gender-identity issues and includes a condom demonstration video. Only students whose parents have provided written consent can participate in the lessons. The curriculum was tested at six schools in the spring.

The groups Citizens for a Responsible Curriculum, Family Leader Network and Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays on Feb. 7 filed a petition against implementation of the curriculum with the Maryland State Board of Education. The state education board in June in a closed session approved the curriculum. The state board in a 17-page opinion declined to "second guess the appropriateness" of the curriculum and said it could reverse the county board's action only if it violated the law. The state panel reviewed more than 12 claims alleging the curriculum violated the law, but it did not find any violations. Seven panel members signed the opinion and four abstained.

The groups last month announced plans to appeal the curriculum in court, seeking to reverse the state board's decision (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 8/8). The appeal is scheduled to be heard in January 2008, but the groups have asked the court to issue a stay on the curriculum. According to the Post, opponents of the curriculum say it promotes unsafe sex and homosexuality.

Brian Edwards, a spokesperson for Montgomery County Schools, said it "appears" that the opponents are "intent on forcing Montgomery County public schools to spend thousands more in taxpayer dollars to argue the same points all over again." CRC spokesperson Michelle Turner said the groups are "only asking that these individual classes, these units, not be taught" (Washington Post, 9/5).

Reprinted with kind permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation© 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.