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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1/9/21  2:39 pm
Commenter: Former Public School Teacher/Grandmother

Strongly Oppose
 

 As a 39 year public school teacher, I cannot imagine the damage these proposed guidelines will do to the Virginia Public Schools. Private schools will become the norm if these are passed, and staffing for public schools will be difficult to find. This is NOT the way to protect transgender people, it is giving all power to those that may identify one way one day and change the next. One part of these guidelines, in particular, appalls me. It is that male and female locker rooms can be invaded by the opposite biological sex on a whim. I do not approve of these proposed guidelines based on radical theories that eradicate all distinctions between male and female and indoctrinate our school children.  Please do not approve.

CommentID: 89266