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  11:21 pm
Commenter: Nancy Pilchen

Parent of 3 and former PTA president at two schools, I strongly support these recommendations
 

I think we can all agree that children need to feel safe in school.  This means all students. I fail to understand how policies like this will make those children to whom it does not apply, feel unsafe. But without these policies, other children to whom it may well apply, may continue to feel unsafe.

Life is difficult enough for kids.  If the goal is for all kids to feel safe, and able to learn in school, then we have to continue to discuss policies that work toward that goal.  And as needs are identified, we can't just ignore them because they're inconvenient.  So much of the debate against these policies resembles Jim Crow VA of the 50's when schools were shut down rather than integrated, because people didn't want their kids to be with those who weren't identical to themselves.  So what does it  matter if your kid's schoolmates don't fit your view of reality?  

CommentID: 97034