The Newport News school division last week rolled out revised procedures that govern the treatment of transgender students. The updates put the division in compliance with the state’s guidelines.
The revised procedures state that school personnel can only refer to underage students using a name different from the one on their official record, or pronouns other than those corresponding with the listed sex on their records, with written permission from the student’s parents. An exception is made for nicknames “commonly associated” with their given name, or “when it is necessary for the student’s academic instruction, such as using a name more common in a foreign country while in a foreign-language course.”
The revised procedures also state that school personnel and other students cannot be forced to use a person’s preferred pronouns, or address another student “in any manner that would violate their First Amendment protected rights.”
The procedures also state that students will not receive counseling related to gender without their parents being notified and having the opportunity to object. The procedures also state that the division will not encourage or instruct teachers to hide information about students from their parents, except where the law allows, such as when a student is “at imminent risk of suicide related to parental abuse or neglect.”
The revised procedures did not require a board vote and were rolled out by Superintendent Michele Mitchell on Friday. The division directs anyone with questions about the policy to contact Director of Legal Services Len Wallin at len.wallin@nn.k12.va.us.
The change to the procedures come after the finalized version of the model policies were released from the state this summer and after months of public comments during board meetings that saw crowds arguing on both sides of the issue.
Nour Habib, nour.habib@virginiamedia.com
