Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Education
 
Board
State Board of Education
 
Guidance Document Change: The Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools guidance document was developed in response to House Bill 145 and Senate Bill 161, enacted by the 2020 Virginia General Assembly, which directed the Virginia Department of Education to develop and make available to each school board model policies concerning the treatment of transgender students in public elementary and secondary schools. These guidelines address common issues regarding transgender students in accordance with evidence-based best practices and include information, guidance, procedures, and standards relating to: compliance with applicable nondiscrimination laws; maintenance of a safe and supportive learning environment free from discrimination and harassment for all students; prevention of and response to bullying and harassment; maintenance of student records; identification of students; protection of student privacy and the confidentiality of sensitive information; enforcement of sex-based dress codes; and student participation in sex-specific school activities, events, and use of school facilities.
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2/3/21  12:24 am
Commenter: Marissa

Recommend all those involved in the decision review this guidebook.
 

It is the responsibility of educators to create a safe, healthy, and productive environment for students, and that begins with acceptance.  Religion does not have a place in shaping or dictating educational policy.  

I strongly support this proposal and recommend that all those involved in the decision review the NCLR’s guidebook “Schools In Transition: A Guide for Supporting Transgender Students in K-12.”  It offers best practices for working with parents that are unsupportive and gives an overview of the legal landscape that administrators, educators, parents, and students should be aware of as they work to create safe and supportive school environments for all.

CommentID: 94682