Haverford introduces policy to protect transgender students
The policy states that Haverford is committed to providing “a safe, supportive and inclusive learning environment for all students and employees,” with equal access to educational programs and activities. The policy articulates the board’s support in ensuring that gender expansive and transgender students “are provided such equal opportunity and access to programs, services and activities.”
HAVERFORD » School district officials at a recent meeting introduced a set of administrative regulations for proposed School Board Policy 259, Ensuring Equity and Non-discrimination for Gender Expansive and Transgender Students, which the school board is expected to vote on Nov. 16.
These regulations, not completed when the policy was introduced on Oct. 19, provide concrete guidelines designed to promote “the safety, comfort, and healthy development” of gender expansive and transgender students, while maximizing their social integration and minimizing stigmatization and isolation.
Developed by a districtwide inclusivity committee in collaboration with psychologist Jeanne Stanley, Board Policy 259 supplements existing policies on unlawful harassment and bullying to address gender expansive and transgender students’ needs.
The policy states that Haverford is committed to providing “a safe, supportive and inclusive learning environment for all students and employees,” with equal access to educational programs and activities. The policy articulates the board’s support in ensuring that gender expansive and transgender students “are provided such equal opportunity and access to programs, services and activities.”
Superintendent Maureen Reusche noted that the eight-page set of regulations includes sections on privacy and confidentiality, official and unofficial records, use of names and pronouns, dress code, participation in sports, athletics and programs, as well as locker room and restroom access, student safety, and more.
She noted that guidelines affirm all students’ right to privacy, which includes “keeping a student’s actual or perceived gender identity and expression private.” However, students also have the right “to openly discuss and express their gender identity and gender expression.”
Guidelines further clarify that the district must use a child’s legal name on official records, but can use a chosen name on unofficial records, which include ID cards, rosters, diplomas, directories and yearbooks.
Additionally, students would have the right to be addressed by the name and pronoun corresponding to their gender identity.
On the controversial topic of restrooms, regulations state that where separate restroom facilities for male and female students exist, gender expansive and transgender students should have access to the restroom corresponding to their gender identity.
Any student requesting increased privacy should be provided with a reasonable alternative, guidelines state, such as a single-stall restroom, if possible.
Administrators are authorized to designate gender neutral single-stall restrooms in buildings.
Similarly, gender expansive and transgender students would have access to the locker room facility that corresponds to their gender identity. Any student requiring increased privacy should be afforded “access to a reasonable accommodation.”
Regulations call for a gender-neutral dress code and uniform policy, and afford students “the right to dress in accordance with their gender identity,” within established constraints.
Participation in sports, athletic teams and competitions will be “conducted in a manner consistent with the student’s gender identity.”
Guidelines further provide that students may not “be excluded from participation in … or be subject to harassment or other forms of discrimination on the basis of gender identity in any program or activity.” They cannot be required to take, or be denied participation in any course based on gender identity.
“The goal is to create an environment that is safe for our students, where they can be most successful,” Reusche said.
Final sections deal with education and training, which Reusche said will be “multi-year work.”
“We’re a big system, the second largest in the county,” Reusche said.
Training will be provided for all adults in the school system on how to prevent, identify and respond to harassment and discrimination. Information about gender expansive and transgender students will be incorporated into staff professional development, as well as students’ developmental guidance and health curriculum.
Regulations also incorporate a set of definitions for relevant terms. Gender identity is defined, for example, as “a person’s innermost concept of self as male, female, a combination of both, or neither.”
The term transgender describes “a person whose sex assigned at birth does not correspond with their gender identity.”
Gender expansive “conveys a wider, more flexible range of gender identity and/or gender expression than typically associated with the binary gender (male/female) system.”
Board President Denis Gray noted that regulations can be expanded and revised, as needed.
School director Ari Flaisher thanked Reusche and the committee for their work. “This makes the district safe and inclusive,” he said.
If the policy is approved next week, Haverford will join a growing number of area school districts that have taken similar action, including Lower Merion, Great Valley, Radnor, Marple Newtown and Philadelphia.
Members of the Havertown Area Community Action Network initially called attention to the issue at a series of school board meetings early in the year.
Pointing to research and statements by the American Academy of Pediatrics, they maintained that gender expansive and transgender students are at an increased risk for violence, bullying, harassment and suicide.
Speaking at public forum last week, network member and Haverford parent Meg Clark recounted difficulties her transgender child faced in school.
Clark later wrote in an email that the proposed regulations seem “awesome.”
“I am proud that the board and superintendent are moving forward with these regulations. I urge the school system to not neglect the lower grades … all school-age children are ready and able to learn about gender expansive and transgender students. Many are gender expansive and transgender students, and the more their classmates and educators understand them, the safer all students will feel,” Clark said.