Boards’ LGBTQ policies out of step with School Act changes, group says
Four Alberta school board policies that should accommodate LGBTQ students and staff fail to meet new legal requirements soon coming into force, a dissection by Public Interest Alberta released Monday shows.
Policies and procedures at Edmonton Catholic Schools, Buffalo Trail Public Schools, Westwind Public Schools and Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools also lack research-backed best practices to ensure students and staff know their rights and feel protected in school, said Kristopher Wells, an assistant professor of educational policy studies at the University of Alberta.
“Change is clearly needed to these policies,” said Wells, who was commissioned by the non-profit advocacy group to do the analysis.
Two of the four school boards under scrutiny say their policies will be updated shortly to meet new legal requirements.
Alberta’s education minister introduced legislation last fall to close “gaps” in the School Act for the protection of LGBTQ students and staff. Bill 24 requires principals “immediately” approve gaystraight alliance clubs when students request them; schools must specify in policy they will respect privacy law that stops them from “outing ” LGBTQ students; and all boards and schools — private and public — must adopt new policies by April 1, 2018, reflecting the new rules.
By June 30, the new policies must be posted publicly, online and in schools, where they are easy to find, and copies must be provided upon request.
With the first deadline looming in a fortnight, Public Interest Alberta examined a sample of policies they’d heard weren’t up to snuff, president Larry Booi said Monday.
Wells made a list of 26 criteria he said a good policy should have to reflect the law and create supportive environments for LGBTQ people.
Buffalo Trail met 10 of the 26 criteria, Westwind met seven, Edmonton Catholic met four and Christ the Redeemer met one.
None of the boards provided the policies upon request, or were easy to find, Wells said. Many policies use “vague” language, excluding words such as “lesbian,” “gay,” “transgender” and “bisexual,” which further marginalizes sexual and gender minorities, he said.
“It’s a form of resistance on the part of boards. They want to have it both ways,” Booi said, adding they want to be seen as meeting legal requirements while maintaining views “inconsistent with legislation.”
An Edmonton Catholic Schools procedure references a pastoral letter that calls for people who experience same-sex attraction to observe chastity, which Wells said is discriminatory to LGBTQ students.
Buffalo Trail superintendent Bob Allen, who had not seen the analysis, said Monday the board’s policies are currently under review and will be revised to meet new legal requirements by the deadline. The district is committed to the safety of every student, he said.
Christ the Redeemer will also update its policies on time, spokeswoman Cindy Nickerson said in an email Monday. She also pointed to surveys of parents, students and staff that show the division has among the best ratings for a safe and caring environment in the province.
No one could be reached for comment at Westwind school division. Edmonton Catholic Schools refused comment on the report, and would not say whether any of its policies or procedures will be revised by the April 1 deadline.
Superintendent Joan Carr reported to the Edmonton Catholic school board Thursday that the district’s administrative procedures are under review for compliance with Bill 24. The board’s policy on “inclusive communities” was last updated June 30, 2017.