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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1/5/21  8:06 am
Commenter: Aaron Taliaferro

Schools are not parents
 

These guidelines replace the judgement of parents with the judgements of school administrators.  The most / the most - VA should do is take a Libertarian position on the issue - allowing each family to do as they wish with respect to identity.    The idea that a school could be allowed and sanctioned by the state to choose a child’s wishes over the guidance of parents is a terrible precedent to even consider. With respect to access to facilities, biology not self identification needs to be determinant for minors. Furthermore, these guidelines run roughshod over the religious beliefs of any school employee who believes in biology as the way identity is determined in accordance with a designed order established by a creator.  Male and female is not as fluid as these guidelines allow for.  

CommentID: 88131