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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1/15/21  8:21 am
Commenter: Anonymous parent

Strongly oppose
 

The intention to provide a safe and loving environment for all students is an important one, but this is not the way to do it. These are sensitive matters that are best handled by the children’s parents in accordance with the best interest of their individual children. Additionally, even as these guidelines attempt to protect freedom of expression for some students, enforcement of several of these provisions will necessarily violate 1st Amendment guarantees for other students, staff, and even community members using school premises for non-school related activity (freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, and even freedom of expression for others). 

CommentID: 90124