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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1/18/21  10:49 am
Commenter: VA Public School Parent

Opposed - Creates Significant Problems
 

  We all agree that bullying is not acceptable and that thought is a good one. These proposed guidelines, however well intentioned, are simultaneoisly going against science, going against religious beliefs, setting up students for unnecessary discipline, and creating environments where sexual harassment will flourish. Students can not be expected to ascertain a gender identity if it is constantly changing and is only in a specific student's mind. Furthermore, a school system should encourage scientific studies. Scientifically, a person's gender chromosomes are one thing at birth and remain that thing. It does not change during the course or a week, month, etc.. Furthermore, Scripture and science strongly agree that there are two genders. These policies are going to cause innocent students to be disciplined for no reason, for science to be thrown out the window, and for religion to be ignored. Meanwhile, the allowance of any student to use any locker room and restroom they would like WILL cause instances of sexual harassment and discomfort that are grossly unacceptable. The final result of these policies will likely be a mass exodus out of the VA Public School system. These guidelines, as written, would cause massive problems throughout the state in every county and community.

CommentID: 90590