A Virginia board of education Tuesday approved a policy requiring students to submit written requests to use school bathrooms aligning with their gender identity. The board retained the right of final decision in the Restroom and Locker policy members approved 5-2 at the district’s August 30 regular meeting.
Hanover County Public Schools‘ policy change followed a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of five district students challenging their refusal to issue a bathroom policy.
Townhall further reported:
The new policy from the Hanover County School Board was passed during a meeting on Tuesday. Under the new policy, the student and their guardians must submit the written request to the school administration. The school board has the authority to approve or deny the requests.
Local outlet WRIC reported that the policy says administrators can request a meeting with the transgender student and their guardians about their request to use a bathroom that does not align with their gender identity. In addition, they can request a statement from the student about their gender identity and signed statements from the student’s doctor, therapist or licensed counselor “verifying that the student has been diagnosed with gender dysphoria.”
Reportedly, the school board adopted some requirements late last year but did not implement rules allowing trans students to use restrooms consistent with their gender identities.
Townhall covered Aug. 11 how the school district was considering the policy ahead of the 2022-2023 school year. In 2020, state lawmakers passed legislation requiring school districts to create guidelines consistent with the model policies crafted by Department of Education regarding transgender and nonbinary students.
Education policies resonated with Virginia parents during last year’s election, which many political analysts credit with helping Republican Glen Youngkin become Virginia’s governor.
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