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
2/2/21  11:41 pm
Commenter: Concerned parent

Strongly OPPOSE!!!
 

I strongly oppose this bill. I feel the "safe for all" definition is not taking the safety, of biological male or females into consideration. According to this policy, schools will have to allow boys identifying as girls, to use the girls’ bathrooms or change in female locker rooms, and it can be done without parents being notified! Sadly, no one ever talks about the harm done to very young girls, for example, who feel powerless to expect physical privacy in the present of biological males—not to mention young men who don’t want to change in front of biological girls. Our kids have enough to worry about and enough changes to be adapting through as they are growing, we don't need to add this on to them. This is a huge mistake for the school system to take on this agenda. The kids aren't even back to in-person learning and you all are considering such foolishness as this bill. Parents are struggling to work, some from home and some can't now because of kids not being in school. The kids are struggling with their school work and just wanting to get back with their friends, meanwhile you all are choosing to focus on a topic like this. Please vote against this bill!

CommentID: 94641