Transgender Student Policy Repealed By Lacey School District

LACEY, NJ — A school policy regarding transgender students has been repealed in the Lacey Township School District as the rule itself has sparked controversy across the state.

Policy 5756 has made headlines and raised questions statewide in recent months, as districts including Middletown, Hanover and Marlboro are being sued by the state for trying to implement policies that require schools to inform parents if a child identifies as transgender, going against the policy.

Opponents of the policy say it erodes parental rights in the district, while advocates that requiring schools to inform parents of a transgender student's identity puts the student at risk of harm and violates their civil rights.

Lacey adopted the policy in April 2019 after being informed it was a requirement. However, recent comments by state officials have indicated that the policy is not required and school districts have begun repealing it, including in Lacey.

"The Board wishes to rescind Policy 5756 because it is not mandatory and, instead, will consider

the individual circumstances of any situation involving a transgender student and parental notification," reads the resolution from the latest Lacey Township Board of Education meeting.

The district will continue to comply with the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, which includes gender identity as a protected class, school board member Kim Klaus explained.

The Board unanimously repealed the policy, with Board Vice President Skip Peters thanking the policy committee for its work.