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  11:40 pm
Commenter: Wanda Wylam

Adamantly Oppose
 

I am adamantly opposed to the model policies. VA Law Section 1-240.1. Rights of Parents is ignored--"A parent has a fundamental right to make decisions concerning the upbringing, education, and care of the parent's child."  The model policies undermine the role of parents in raising their children by leaving parents out of the loop on every level, including allowing children to "transgender" without parents' knowledge.

Diversity (pgs 3-4) is lacking in the group that developed the model policies as evidenced by no representation from parental rights groups, family advocacy groups, faith-based higher education, the faith community and people no longer identifying as transgender. Only one parent representative was included. 

"Our true identity, as male and female persons, is given by God. It is not only foolish, but hopeless, to try to make ourselves what God did not create us to be" (Nashville Statement, cbmw.org).

 

CommentID: 97099