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  11:28 pm
Commenter: Anonymous

Vehemently against proposed trans guidelines
 

These proposed transgender guidelines, if passed, would wreak havoc on VA’s children, families, and public schools. Doesn’t this create more of a stigma for trans kids to overcome and make it harder to adjust to the social culture of school? What kind of character would a trans child in that environment develop? I imagine this would only embolden bullies to make the lives of trans kids harder when no one is looking. And how are you helping these kids by pitting them against their parents, the very people who brought them into the world and love them more than life itself (and certainly have their best interests at heart)? Frankly, it seems to me that by suggesting it would be necessary to take such extreme measures against teachers, you’re discriminating against trans kids by suggesting that they’re somehow weak and unable to stand up for themselves if needed, or more proactively to build a respectful relationship with a teacher. And by the way, aren’t teachers the heroes and the backbone of our school system? Mark my words: Should these guidelines pass, students and teachers will leave the VA public school system in droves and you will have an unprecedented crisis of your own making on your hands. 

CommentID: 97057