On Tuesday, March 17, 2015, the Saint Paul Public Schools' Gender Inclusion Policy passed with unanimous support from the Board of Education members. Read the final policy here.
Work on a Saint Paul Public Schools Gender Inclusion Policy began in February 2014, following student reports of being harassed and discriminated against for their gender identity. The Board of Education created a work group to gather feedback from school principals, parents, student leadership, and students from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community. The group included three Board of Education members, principals and staff from several departments. Transgender and gender non-conforming students in SPPS have reported the following problems:
- Violations of personal privacy and data privacy
- Intimidation from some peers and some adults
- Higher levels of homelessness
- A lack of respect and understanding from adults about gender identity and gender expression
- Fear of harassment and discrimination from being “outed,” either intentionally or unintentionally
- Lack of access to facilities
The purpose of a Gender Inclusion Policy is to address and remove the inequities reported by some students.
Through establishing a Gender Inclusion Policy, Saint Paul Public Schools will ensure that all students have equitable access to safe and comfortable programming, athletics and facilities.
Policy Points
- Respect all students’ gender identity and gender expression by honoring the right of students to be identified and addressed by their preferred name and pronoun.
- Prohibit, within academic programming, the separation of students based upon gender unless it serves as a compelling pedagogical (instructional) tool.
- Permit all students to participate in co-curricular and extracurricular activities in a manner consistent with their gender identity including, but not limited to, intramural and interscholastic athletics.
- Provide all students access to facilities that best align with students’ gender identity.
- Respect all students’ gender identity and gender expression by honoring the right of students to be identified and addressed by their preferred name and pronoun.
- Prohibit, within academic programming, the separation of students based upon gender unless it serves as a compelling pedagogical (instructional) tool.
- Permit all students to participate in co-curricular and extracurricular activities in a manner consistent with their gender identity including, but not limited to, intramural and interscholastic athletics.
- Provide all students access to facilities that best align with students’ gender identity.
My name is part of my identity. I you cannot call me by my name, you cannot see me. I refuse to be invisible.
- Student, Grade 11
