Arlington schools will not comply with new state guidelines for trans, nonbinary students
Arlington County Public Schools will not comply with updated guidelines for transgender and nonbinary students that Republican Gov.
Glenn Youngkin unveiled last week, according to a statement that Supt. Francisco Durán issued. The new set of Virginia Department of Education guidelines would force trans students to use the bathroom of their sex assigned at birth, mandate teachers misgender trans students unless they have parental permission to use the student’s chosen name and pronouns, direct schools not to conceal information about a student’s gender from parents, ban trans students from team sports and force counselors to get parental consent before speaking with a student about gender identity. “I oppose any policy that infringes upon the rights of our students and threatens the safety and well-being of our LGBTQIA+ students,” Durán wrote. “APS will continue to uphold our core mission and follow our policies to ensure that every child receives equal educational access and opportunities.
We fully support our transgender and LGBTQIA+ students and value the many diverse identities within our schools, where every student can authentically express themselves, feel valued and have a genuine sense of belonging.” Durán wrote that school counselors, psychologists and social workers will be available to support students and provide “a listening and reassuring space” for LGBTQ students.
Arlington Public Schools has also created a resource guide for LGBTQ students. “We will continue to model and live our values in support of inclusion, belonging, well-being and access to quality education,” Durán wrote. “To this end, our current policies and procedures that protect, affirm, and celebrate transgender, nonbinary and gender-fluid
