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.
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1/15/21  4:58 pm
Commenter: Concerned Parent

Oppose: Deception of Parents is against every Child Safety Rule
 

This guidebook is not only misguided but dangerous to our youth.  It is inappropriate for teachers and school staff to become involved in a child’s personal life and sexuality.  We have long been taught as parents that no other adult should be asking about our kids intimate development and that any suspicion of secretiveness or deception should be a red flag.  Are we abandoning this protection for our children?  Are we giving school staff free reign to advise our kids on matters of utmost importance without the consent or involvement with the parent?  Who is a teacher that has spent a few months with our children(hopefully too busy educating to discuss personal issues?)  to involve themselves in life altering decisions above the parent?  
One final thought.  We know that early treatment for “gender dysphoria” includes hormone therapy, which when administered in childhood prohibits natural reproductive development, therefore effectively sterilizing a child for a lifetime.  Do we not think that something so critical and life altering should be left to parents and medical professionals without the influence of teachers who have no lifelong investment in our child?
Shame on anyone who would pass this or encourage this kind of corruption in our school system.  We are asking you to educate, not parent our children.  

CommentID: 90239