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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1/16/21  2:58 pm
Commenter: Emily Cloe

A Misguided Solution
 

This is the wrong way to protect our Commonwealth's children. Being inclusive should not disclude the majority. I can fully support anti-bullying and accomodating the few, but subjecting a larger group is a poor and lazy excuse for efficiency. We would better spend our efforts teaching ALL children to respect the choices of ALL others without forcing them to be placed in uncomfortable situations themselves. To do otherwise is tyranny. Also, children are under the care of parents/guardians precisely because they lack maturity to make major life decisions. Schools/government have no place interfering in the family hierarchy, never mind overriding parental authority. Children should be allowed to make their own choices on these matters when they have reached adulthood- legally, emotionally, physically, etc. Until then, the only job of teachers and staff is to educate and support education. Let the family do its job in society of teaching morals and stop trying to force citizens into submission to the fickle will of the self-important, citizen-appointed, governmental so-called experts. The choice to not use preferred pronouns, etc. for a child is NOT "abuse". It is education. Education in respect for others, just as anyone wishes to be respected. Perhaps there would be more mutual respect in our communities if it went both ways. Demanding respect of one group demonstrates a lack of respect of that group. Children should respect teachers and staff. Teachers and staff should respect parents. Differences should be discussed and resolved on an individual basis, between individuals- not with a one size fits all mandate from the VDOE/Commonwealth. 

CommentID: 90389