Pr ivate potties coming to NY schools

TheT city will establish single-stall bathbathrooms in every school by January of nnext year, the Department of Education announced Tuesday. Chancellor Carmen Fariña said the move will provide comfort and pprivacy for disabled kids, those sufferfering from a medical condition, transgengender students, and “gender nonconformforming” users. “WWe want to ensure that all students recereceive the additional privacy they need and have access to a restroom that aligns with their gender identity,” she said in a statement.

The policy will allow transgender kids to enjoy a lavatory “safe space” without requiring any permission or documentation, according to the DOE.

City First Lady Chirlane McCray argues that bathroom anxiety can harm academic performance, adding:

“This initiative should serve as a reminder that the needs of all students deserve to be met in the absence of a distractive bathroom experience that can impede academic achievement.”

The DOE will roll out the $1 million first phase of the plan this month, ensuring that existing single-stall restrooms be converted to student use. All other buildings will be equipped by January, though there is no price tag for that yet.

“Over the next several months, we will work with individual schools and principals to ensure all schools can properly meet the needs of students who would like additional privacy,” said Deputy Chancellor Elizabeth Rose.