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The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has developed and released Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools in response to House Bill 145 and Senate Bill 161 enacted by the 2020 Virginia General Assembly.
The final version of the model policies is now available on the Virginia Department of Education’s Gender Diversity webpage along with additional resources to assist school divisions in developing and implementing their local policies.
To comply with § 22.1-23.3 of the Code of Virginia, local school boards shall adopt policies consistent with these model policies by the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year. Schools are encouraged to conduct a comprehensive equity audit to help facilitate this process, which can be found on the Navigating EdEquityVA webpage on the Virginia is for Learners website.
It is critical that educators and leaders treat the diversity of students as assets that add value to learning by affirming the qualities that make students unique. Safe and welcoming schools and classrooms that uphold student dignity are a necessary condition for an equitable education. Every Virginia student, regardless of their gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation, has a right to learn free from discrimination and harassment. The Virginia Department of Education is committed to working with divisions to ensure Virginia schools are welcoming, affirming, and safe for all students.
Virginia’s Education Equity Framework, Navigating EdEquityVA, outlines our commitment to dismantle any and all forms of inequity in Virginia’s public education system and includes strategies to support LGBTQ+ students. The Roadmap is guided by the EdEquityVA Compass (PDF), which articulates the essential competencies and strategies necessary to advance equity in the Commonwealth for Virginia’s most marginalized student populations. Additionally, the Office of Equity and Community Engagement has outlined resources specific to LGBTQ+ Students on the LGBTQ+ Student page on the Virginia is for Learners website.
For questions related to the model policies, please contact Quyen Duong, Student Services Specialist in the Office of Student Services, at Quyen.Duong@doe.virginia.gov.
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