By now you may have heard that the Obama Administration released new Guidance on Title IX that will impact your school related to protections for transgender students and allowing use of facilities that match a particular individual’s chosen identity. Given the safety and social-emotional well-being of every student that must be at the forefront of discussions in your learning community on this issue, the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) would like to draw your immediate attention to an accompanying document, Examples of Emerging Policies and Practices to Support Transgender Students.

Given the importance of this issue and protections for transgender students, as well as age-appropriate considerations that every Pre-K-8 principal must take into account, NAESP would like to underscore that this federal guidance jointly signed by the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) and U.S. Department of Education (USED) does not add requirements to current law, but provides information to states, districts and schools through examples on how to evaluate policy and practices when considering compliance with any legal obligations.

NAESP encourages all principals to be acquainted with state and district policies regarding transgender students, and to consult your school or district attorney should you have any questions or concerns. Any school district policies that include protections for transgender students should include the perspective of principals in the school building where policies are not currently in place, and we encourage you to weigh in as state and local determinations are made. Finally, it is critically important to maintain a positive school culture where all students feel included and respected, regardless of their gender identity or gender expression, and NAESP encourages you to work with your school support personnel, such as counselors and psychologists, to ensure that younger students have clear and age-appropriate communication.