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  10:44 pm
Commenter: Amy

STRONGLY OPPOSE
 

This policy breaks the parent- teacher partnership that so many schools claim to have.  

It does nothing to help a child’s mental health; rather, it is detrimental. It dismisses the parents who have raised this child.

This policy also assumes that the school personnel has a more vested interest in my child that I do as a parent. That assumption is incredibly inaccurate.

When a child leaves the school system, she/he will always have family. The schools should not put a wedge in that relationship.
Major life decisions (such as repeating a grade, holding back for a “gift of time” to delay kindergarten, and any  conversation about gender) should always be in the parents’ hands— not the schools! Family will always be part of that child; the school system is only part for a few years of her/his life. 

CommentID: 96923