Va. Department of Education releases updated guidelines for transgender, nonbinary students
The Virginia Department of Education on Tuesday released its updated guidelines for transgender and nonbinary students in the state.
One section of the new guidelines states “schools shall defer to parents to make the best decisions with respect to their children.” “Parents are in the best position to work with their children and, where appropriate, their children’s health care providers to determine (a) what names, nicknames and/or pronouns, if any, shall be used for their child by teachers and school staff while their child is at school, (b) whether their child engages in any counseling or social transition at school that encourages a gender that differs from their child’s sex, or (c) whether their child expresses a gender that differs with their child’s sex while at school,” they read.
Another section states “schools shall keep parents informed about their children’s well-being.” “To ensure parents are able to make the best decisions with respect to their child, school personnel shall keep parents fully informed about all matters that may be reasonably expected to be important to a parent, including, and without limitation, matters related to their child’s health, and social and psychological development,” reads the guidelines. “Parents’ rights are affirmed by the U.S.
Supreme Court that characterized a parent’s right to raise his or her child as ‘perhaps the oldest of the fundamental liberty interests recognized by this court.’ Troxel v.
