Washington State Tells Teachers To Hide Student Gender Transitions From Parents

Teachers in Washington state are required by school policy to keep students’ gender changes hidden from their parents unless the student grants his or her permission.

According to a teacher in Washington state who talked with The Daily Wire and sought anonymity out of fear of being fired, the policy’s impacts on students are starting to appear, but instructors effectively have their hands bound.

The policy was issued by the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), which is responsible for managing public education in the state.

“Sometimes, transgender students may not want their families to know that they are transgender or that they use a different name, pronouns, and gender designation at school,” OPSI says in a section titled “Communicating with Families” in its “Gender-Inclusive Schools” guidelines.

“Often, this is because they are concerned about a lack of familial acceptance,” which could potentially impact “their safety and wellbeing at home,” the agency said.

As a result, according to the agency’s Civil Rights Guidelines, instructors may not notify a student’s parents about their transgender status unless the kid gives them permission.

The rules specify that “school staff should not disclose information that may reveal a student’s transgender status to others, including parents and other school staff, unless legally required to do so or unless the student has authorized such disclosure.”

To prevent “unintentionally outing the student at home,” teachers must ask the transgender students what their parents think their name, pronouns, and gender is, according to OPSI. Their transgender status is considered “confidential medical or education information,” and revealing that information to their own parents may be a violation of privacy laws, the agency claims.

“It can be a challenging situation for all involved when families and students are not on the same page about the student’s gender identity or transition. However, in Washington, the right to be treated consistent with one’s gender identity at school belongs to the student,” OSPI added.

The rules apply to K-12 public institutions, which may include kindergarten students as young as five years old. The age and grade level of a student “should never be used to justify delaying or denying a student’s gender transition.”

Stay tuned to The Scoop for any updates.