Capitol News

Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt and Senator Jim Runestad have criticized the Michigan State Board of Education for its recent adoption of new health and sex education standards. In a statement released Friday, the senators expressed concern that the board is prioritizing these standards over efforts to improve student academic performance.

“Michigan students continue to fall behind their peers nationally, with nearly 75% of fourth and eighth graders not proficient in reading or math. Yet this board is obsessed with indoctrinating our children into extreme agendas instead of improving student performance so our kids can succeed. It’s misguided, it’s unnecessary, and it’s harming our students," they said.

The senators also voiced opposition to the content of the new standards. “These new radical standards are the biggest insult to parental rights, natural biology and basic common sense that we’ve ever seen. Our education system should focus on ensuring that our kids have the skills they need to make it in Michigan, not forcing families to co-parent with the government,” according to their statement.