This regulation must change. It does not promote a supportive school environment and has the potential to harm those students who may need support the most. While saying it’s important that the school environment be free from harassment and bullying, this policy does so in a way that decreases the likelihood that students who are gender non-conforming will come forward and thus they will be denied the support they need to thrive at school.
Students whose parents/guardians are already supportive of their identity will more than likely already talk and discuss this with them, and have protective factors already on their side.
Students whose parents are not supportive and who may in fact disown, or otherwise negatively impact the student’s mental or physical health, will not get the support of their identity safely at school (because they will not want their guardian/parents informed) or at home. As a society, we already recognize not all parents/guardians have children’s best interests in mind.
Section V. Bullet B and C. This regulation takes away a person’s efficacy for an issue that affects them and harms no one and places their decision in the hands of another where it can cause emotional harm. This law does exactly what it says, it serves to “control” and harm children in the false name of “parental empowerment.”
Calling a student another name (as educators have been doing with nicknames for years) should not be a parental decision. Choosing & using pronouns should fall into the same category of personal choice and be respected by educators and peers in this public environment.
This law is based on a specific belief that is not backed by science. Just because you choose not to believe something, does not mean you are correct. You are privileging control and bias without considering the harm that may be caused to an actual child. Read any of the scientific research done in this area.
Equipping schools with the personnel, time, funding, and training to be able talk with a students about identity, their support network, and yes, safety, then helping students to find ways to talk with parents/guardians is a better use of regulatory power than this over-reach.