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  7:09 pm
Commenter: Dan Waidelich, Clover Hill High School

Resounding support from a teacher
 

I am proud to teach at Virginia high school, and I will be even more proud when these proposed guidelines empower educators to protect and nurture trans and gender expansive students in the Commonwealth. 

These kids aren’t an abstraction. They are in my classes, as funny and brilliant and bright as all their peers. But the sheer nerve and bravery it takes for them to get up each day and proclaim their identity floors me. They know the world hasn’t made room for them yet, but they are sure that it will. And how lucky are they to love in Virginia, now, when we’ve finally opened up more room in our hearts?

These proposed guidelines will give trans students an incredible resource, which they should have had at school all along: dignity 

CommentID: 96167