As nearly half of all states battle with the federal government about what schools are required to do to accommodate transgender students, many educational leaders are already carrying out policies related to pronoun use, school climate issues, and which restrooms and locker rooms students can use.
Many created those policies well before the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice issued controversial guidance in May that Title IX requires schools to allow transgender students to use the restrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity, even if it differs from their sex at birth.
While transgender students represent a very small percentage of the population, advocates say children are “coming out” and transitioning gender identities at younger ages, meaning any school in the country may have to address the issue at some point. Here’s how one principal handled it.
In June, the PBS Newshour aired an Education Week story about Atherton High School in Louisville, Ky., where Principal Thomas Aberli worked with a transgender student to help address her needs. Here’s some bonus content, a special Q and A with Aberli about the ins and outs of that work.
If you missed our Newshour segment, you can view it below.
Still confused about the issue? Here are some frequently asked questions about the debate over transgender students and school bathrooms and locker rooms.