The treatment of transgender students is an important element of Virginia's education goals of having policies and leadership that improve student achievement and prepare students to succeed in postsecondary education and the workplace, and to become engaged and enlightened citizens. We know that supporting student physical, emotional, and social well-being contributes to positive educational and social outcomes. To do anything else encourages the opposite -- impeding trans students' ability to focus on academic and extra-curricular participation, causing confusion and uncertainty for all students, and allowing/condoning mistreatment by classmates and teachers. These policies are in line with physical and psychiatric science/medicine best practice approaches to supporting people experiencing gender dysphoria that include reinforcing self-identification, and exploration of and integration of individualized identity in a safe environment. These policies in no way negate school behavior expectations and rules.