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
1/14/21  7:48 am
Commenter: Mara

This can improve and even save lives.
 

These small changes can allow a transgender child the information and safety necessary to feel comfortable in their own existence. Being educated on transgender issues will not change whether someone is trans or not but it could help them find happiness, avoid depression and suicide, and educate others to prevent bullying. As far as bathrooms go, forcing a trans child to use the wrong bathroom can my them uncomfortable, make their peers uncomfortable, and lead to bullying and violence in a place frequently out of school staff's eyes. None of these regulations will make a child trans, or cause permanent changes to children; but they can prevent bullying, violence, depression, and suicide.

 

CommentID: 89952