County Boards of Education - Curriculum Guides and Courses of Study - Discrepancies

HB 161 requires Maryland's State Department of Education and Department of Health to create a comprehensive health education framework covering topics like mental health, substance abuse prevention, gender identity, and HIV/AIDS education. Each county board of education must then develop age-appropriate curricula aligned with this framework and establish procedures allowing parents to opt their children out of "Family Life and Human Sexuality" lessons (but not HIV/AIDS prevention content). The bill mandates county boards to form committees including community members to review curriculum materials and submit annual compliance reports to the state by June 15 each year. These changes apply directly to public school students, parents/guardians, and county education boards across Maryland.