Valley School Districts Respond to Guidelines Regarding Transgender Students

PALM SPRINGS, CA - Coachella Valley school districts have responded in support of new federal guidelines issued Friday dictating what steps schools must take to prevent discrimination of transgender students on their campuses.

The guidelines were outlined in a joint letter issued by the U.S. departments of Education and Justice, stating that transgender students are protected under Title IX, which prohibits K-12 districts, colleges and universities that receive federal dollars from discriminating against students based on sex.

The guidance letter states that schools must treat students according to the gender they identify with, upon being notified of the student's transgender status. This includes allowing students to take part in sex- segregated activities or use bathrooms and other facilities that match the student's chosen gender identity.

Though the regulations regarding bathrooms have gained the greatest attention, particularly in the wake of North Carolina's controversial Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act, the guidelines prohibit segregating transgender students or forcing them to participate in a wide variety of activities that are inconsistent with their gender identity. These activities include athletics, sex education classes, single-sex classes, boarding at single-sex school housing and any other sex-specific activities.

Schools are also obligated to respond quickly and effectively when dealing with harassment against transgender students, and to protect the privacy of students on issues related to their transgender status.

Joan Boiko, communications manager for the Palm Springs Unified School District, said the district's schools have always provided private restroom accommodations for transgender students in nurses' offices, staff lounges and locker rooms.

"When a student identifies as transgender to a school official, the school meets with the student and/or parents to discuss the best ways to make the student comfortable. If a student chooses a private restroom, he/she is provided with that option," Boiko said.

Private restrooms are also provided for students who are not transgender, but may be uncomfortable with a transgender student using their sex-identified restroom.

Mary Perry, public information officer for the Desert Sands Unified School District, said the district welcomes any guidelines that may help create a comfortable learning environment for transgender students, as well as the entire student body.

"Desert Sands Unified School District has always worked with students to assure that they feel safe and that their individual needs are met in the learning environment," Perry said. "We await documentation that will assist us in further implementing restroom and locker room use that is comfortable and safe for all of our students. The end of the school year is fast approaching, allowing us the time to discuss options and ways to best implement a policy that will work at our schools."

— By City News Service.

(Image via amboo who? on Flickr.)