Virginia Regulatory Town Hall View Comments

Department of Education

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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1/19/21 3:31 pm

Commenter: parent/teacher

oppose-- esp. multi-stall bathroom access

I strongly oppose the proposed change to bathroom access--
“Access to facilities such as restrooms and locker rooms that correspond to a student’s gender identity shall be available to all students.” (Draft Policy, p.18)

“School staff should not confront students about their gender identity upon entry into the restroom.” (Recommended Standard, p.18)

There will need to be single-stall, hallway-accessed, open-gendered bathrooms (like the current staff bathrooms-- any gender can use). In the current set-up in most schools, it is not safe for students of self-identifying alternate genders to be in the multi-stall, unmonitored bathrooms.

CommentID: 90789