Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Education
 
Board
State Board of Education
 
Guidance Document Change: Every day, throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, educators and school leaders work to ensure that all students have an opportunity to receive a high-quality education. As a part of that work, educators strive to meet the individual needs of all students entrusted to their care, and teachers work to create educational environments where all students thrive. The Virginia Department of Education (the “Department”) recognizes that each child is a unique individual with distinctive abilities and characteristics that should be valued and respected. All students have the right to attend school in an environment free from discrimination, harassment, or bullying. The Department supports efforts to protect and encourage respect for all students. Thus, we have a collective responsibility to address topics such as the treatment of transgender students with necessary compassion and respect for all students. The Department also fully acknowledges the rights of parents to exercise their fundamental rights granted by the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution to direct the care, upbringing, and education of their children. The Code of Virginia reaffirms the rights of parents to determine how their children will be raised and educated. Empowering parents is not only a fundamental right, but it is essential to improving outcomes for all children in Virginia. The Department is mindful of constitutional protections that prohibit governmental entities from requiring individuals to adhere to or adopt a particular ideological belief. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees religious freedom and prohibits the government from compelling speech that is contrary to an individual’s personal or religious beliefs. The Department embarked on a thorough review of the Model Policies Guidance adopted on March 4, 2021 (the “2021 Model Policies”). The 2021 Model Policies promoted a specific viewpoint aimed at achieving cultural and social transformation in schools. The 2021 Model Policies also disregarded the rights of parents and ignored other legal and constitutional principles that significantly impact how schools educate students, including transgender students. With the publication of these 2022 Model Policies (the “2022 Model Policies”), the Department hereby withdraws the 2021 Model Policies, which shall have no further force and effect. The Department issues the 2022 Model Policies to provide clear, accurate, and useful guidance to Virginia school boards that align with statutory provisions governing the Model Policies. See Code of Virginia, § 22.1-23.3 (the “Act”). Significantly, the 2022 Model Policies also consider over 9,000 comments submitted to the Department during the public comment period for the 2021 Model Policies.
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10/24/22  6:43 pm
Commenter: Concerned Parent

In Support of Governor Youngkin's reasonable Pro-Parent Policies
 

I continue to be amazed on how far some will go to circumvent the rights of a parent/guardian (in support of an ideology).  As if a child is consistently capable of making a well-thought-out decision (vs one based on emotion and/or hormones).  We know this to be true because we have  laws that govern when a teen can drive (the license is handed to the parent/guardian), when one can vote, when someone can purchase a firearm, the age at which one can marry, etc….   It’s not meant to be slight to the minor – instead, it’s a simple timeless observation that there is a time for parental oversight and judgement, and a time for independent thought and action (hopefully with a guided transition time in between).

Hence, I am in FULL support of Gov. Youngkin’s proposed 2022 Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools.  An individual has their entire life to make a life-altering decision to “change” genders whether through external means (clothes, make-up, hair styles) or medical ones (chemical/surgical alterations).  The latter options are often permanent and decisions of that magnitude should not be left to a teen who can’t decide which zit to pop or whether to wear jeans or yoga pants (yes, this is a humorous generalization but it makes the point).

Logic and reason, folks…. logic and reason.  We use it in every other aspect of our lives…so let’s not stop with our children.   If a parent or guardian want to allow their child to change genders, so be it.  As for me, logic, reason and science will win the day.  I support Gov. Youngkin's 2022 Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools.  A 

CommentID: 195738