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.
Previous Comment     Next Comment     Back to List of Comments
2/3/21  10:12 pm
Commenter: Katherine Ingram

Strongly Disagree!!! to Statewide Transgender School Policies being proposed
 

Faculty and students should not  be required to use “preferred pronouns,” which may change from day to day (Recommended Standard, p.10). Schools should not be permitted to help students explore, facilitate and make decisions regarding their gender expression, without the knowledge of their parents (Recommended Standard, p.12). Parents who encourage their children to embrace their God-given sex should not be at risk of being reported for child abuse or neglect (Recommended Standard, p.13).  A gender-neutral dress code  should not be allowed; this includes the fact that boys should not be permitted to wear skirts, and girls should not be permitted to go topless in activities where boys can do so, such as swimming activities or team activities (Draft Policy, p.16).  All students should not be allowed to use any bathroom or locker room they choose (Draft Policy, p.18).  The ability of any person being permitted to use any bathroom/locker room is alarming for the safety particularly of children. The thought of boys/young men in the same changing facilities as girls/young women is shocking and an invitation for all kinds of sexual violations and abuse. This should not be allowed. Everyone should have to use the bathroom that represents their medically defined biological sex at birth.

CommentID: 96811