Following a trend this spring that saw five suburban schools adopt transgender-affirming student policies, the School District of Philadelphia adopted its own policy at a June 16 meeting.
“We have worked closely with students and members of the LGBTQ community to develop these guidelines,” Superintendent Dr. William R. Hite said in a prepared remark. “Every student deserves to know their rights will be recognized and upheld at school. This policy provides clear guidance and will help to ensure that our schools remain welcoming to all of our students.”
Philadelphia schools’ policy, called the Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Students Policy, addresses names and pronouns, privacy rights, dress code, physical education and sports teams, and restroom and locker room access that correspond to gender identity.
It also stipulates that the school should use gender-neutral language in communication with all students and families, regardless of a student’s gender identity.
Jason Landau Goodman, founding executive director of the Pennsylvania Youth Congress, said his organization, along with The Attic Youth Center, first approached Philadelphia schools in 2014 about instituting a trans policy. Since then, the policy has developed with input from students and parents.
“Yes this is a good start to center the needs of transgender students,” Landau Goodman said. “But the work is not done in terms of the training and implementation of the policy. We urge further development in articulating the policy’s scope.”
The full policy is four pages. School officials said the policy is identical to the rights and accommodations provided to students in the Multiracial-Multicultural-Gender Education Policy.
For more information, visit www.philasd.org. The policy is expected to be posted in full at www.phila.k12.pa.us/offices/administration/policies.