I strongly oppose the Virginia Department of Education’s (VDOE) draft model policies for the treatment of transgender students. As a parent of three girls, these policies have a very real potential to put them in very harmful situations. When anyone is allowed in spaces that have been private and secure spaces for girls, you take away their rights to privacy and violate their safety. It is also highly concerning that this allows schools to help your child make huge decisions about themselves without involving their parents. Multiple parts of these policies specifically state that parents will not be informed about what is happening at school, especially things that could affect a student negatively and that is not alright. Parents have a right to be informed about their child at school and by taking away this dialogue you interfere with family relationships. As an educator, I should have the right to not be a part of something that I don’t agree with and violates my beliefs. This is not something the schools should be involved with in general. Please DO NOT ratify these policies!