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  11:58 pm
Commenter: Michele Smith

Strongly Oppose the Policy Guidance
 

This guidance is purported to be all about transgender students and their rights and protection.  It, in fact, is more about excluding parents from the responsibility, prerogative and authority to teach THEIR children values they believe to be in the child's best interest and proper development of a value system in agreement with their religious values.  Children are being taken under the control of the school system in a fashion that excludes and possibly punishes parents.  This a violation of the family's religious freedom to teach and instill moral values in accordance with their religious faith.  This is offensive AND unconstitutional.  I am OPPOSED to the State inflicted Policy Guidance.

CommentID: 97192