Following Trump Memo, Minneapolis, Saint Paul Public Schools Won't Change Policies

On Wednesday, the Trump administration reversed Obama-era guidelines for schools regarding transgender students' rights, releasing a memo explaining that the issue will be left up to the states.

However, Saint Paul and Minneapolis Public Schools have announced that the new policy at the federal level will not change their own policies.

In a letter titled "SPPS Supports Transgender Students," Saint Paul Public Schools said "The announcement from the Departments of Education and Justice withdrawing the Federal Guidance on Transgender Students will not change any aspect of our Board policy or district practices."

"Saint Paul Public Schools will continue to ensure that all students - including transgender and gender non-conforming students - have equitable access to safe and inclusive programming, athletics, and facilities."

SPPS also said it "remain as committed to supporting our transgender students as we were the day that our Gender Inclusion Policy was unanimously passed in March 2015, more than a year prior to the release of the Federal Guidance."

Minneapolis Public Schools Superintendent Ed Graff issued a similar statement, noting that "Every student has the right to a safe and welcoming education. Minneapolis Public Schools supports our transgender students, families and staff."

"We know diversity is a key strength of our educational community," Graff added.

"MPS will continue to provide welcoming and affirming learning environments, and our protections for transgender students and staff – whom we are proud to support – will remain the same today as they were yesterday."

"It’s important that we stay true to our values and to the needs of all our students and staff."

Also this week, the American Federation of Teachers sent out a statement explicitly condemning the Trump administration's change in policy.

“LGBTQ kids face a disproportionate amount of bullying and violence at school, leading to increased levels of fear, anxiety or worse," it said. "Transgender students, like their peers, want to live and learn, laugh and love. They deserve the opportunity to do that without worrying whether the attorney general, secretary of education or president of the United States will protect them."

It continued: "Reversing this guidance tells trans kids that it’s OK with the Trump administration and the Department of Education for them to be abused and harassed at school for being trans. We want to be clear to those kids: It is not OK with your teachers or with us at the AFT, and we will continue fighting to protect you."

Cody Fenwick (Patch National Staff) contributed to this report.

Image via mathiaswasik, Flickr, used under Creative Commons