In a significant move toward inclusivity, the Champlain Valley School District in Vermont has unanimously passed a set of policies that prioritize the identities of transgender and nonbinary students. These policies align closely with the guidelines issued by the state Agency of Education in 2017 and are aimed at ensuring that trans students have equal access to educational facilities, sports teams, and recognition of their chosen pronouns and names, all without requiring parental notification.
Transgender and Nonbinary Inclusivity Policies
The Champlain Valley School District’s policies were developed after extensive consultation with various stakeholders, including principals, school counselors, nurses, students, parents, and staff from the Vermont Department of Health and Outright Vermont. These policies empower transgender and nonbinary students to determine the extent to which they wish to disclose their identities, including from their parents, and allow them to choose the names and pronouns that teachers use, even retroactively updating past student records without legal hurdles.
Furthermore, the policies emphasize that trans students “must be permitted” to use facilities that match their gender identity, going beyond the state agency’s wording. However, for students who request increased privacy, reasonable alternative arrangements will be provided, such as private areas or single-stall restrooms.
Facing Potential Legal Challenges
While these policies are a significant step toward inclusivity, school board chair Angela Arsenault acknowledges the potential for legal challenges from anti-LGBTQ+ groups like the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF). Despite this, she expresses confidence in the policies’ legal robustness, stating that they have covered their bases in anticipation of any such challenges.
Positive Reception and Future Hopes
Dana Kaplan, executive director of LGBTQ+ youth advocacy organization Outright Vermont, praised the policies as a clear and crucial step in ensuring the safety of all students. She hopes that other school districts will follow suit in providing similar guidance for the rights of young transgender and nonbinary individuals.
The Vermont chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics also commended the district’s policies, emphasizing that the state is not immune to attacks on transgender and gender diverse individuals. By creating a safe environment where students can express their identities, the district aims to foster a better learning and thriving experience for all.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, an estimated 4% of Vermont’s high school students identify as transgender, highlighting the importance of these inclusive policies in supporting a significant portion of the student population.
