New Health Education Requirement Beginning with Class of 2025

The Maryland State Board of Education recently changed its graduation requirement for health education. Students must now earn one full credit for graduation; previously, they earned one half-credit. This requirement begins with the Class of 2025. The health education curriculum team in the Office of Teaching, Learning, and Schools is developing a new Health Education B class that all students will take following Health Education A. 

The Health Education B course will provide students time to develop health literacy skills, such as decision-making, self-management and advocacy. The course will also delve into health concepts, including mental and emotional health, substance abuse prevention, safety and violence prevention, and disease prevention and control.

Health Education A and Health Education B will be offered as honors-level courses in all high schools. There will no longer be on-level versions of these courses.

Students, including rising ninth grade students, may take Health A in summer school this summer. Health B will be available in the fall of 2022. MCPS health teachers will receive training on the new course this summer. 

Online Education Health B will be available through MCPS Student e-Learning outside the school day, in the fall of 2023, and as a central summer school course in the summer of 2024. High schools may offer Health B as part of their local summer school program beginning in summer 2023.