Virginia Regulatory Town Hall View Comments

Department of Education

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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1/6/21 1:16 am

Commenter: Katherine M Scott

Schools should be inclusive - I support the guidelines

Public schools must be inclusive for ALL students, including transgender students. Denying an aspect of a student's identity as basic as their gender makes school a painful and potentially intolerable place -- leading to suicide, dropping out, or simply tuning out, which is a waste of human potential. As noted in the guidelines, reporting a student's transgender status to parents can have dire consequences, including homelessness. Approaches like those described in the guidelines are the best chance for transgender students to remain successfully engaged in their education and avoid deep emotional harm. The guidelines do not unreasonably burden cisgender students; they simply allow transgender students to be themselves in the same school. Please stand firm in protecting transgender students.

CommentID: 88523