Education
BY DAVE MANNING
New gender policy passes
A majority of the over 100 public speakers at the meeting condemned the policy, stating fears it would result in higher rates of domestic abuse, homelessness, drug abuse and suicide for transgender or gender-fluid students. “I’m very disappointed that this board is in a hurry to push through a policy that has clearly been shown that it has significant problems,” Trustee Rebecca Fox said. “We are taking money meant for children, and we’re going to spend it on legal fees.” Those who spoke in favor of the policy cited parental rights and said the policy would help protect their children.
A gender policy restricting how Katy ISD teachers and students discuss gender identity was officially passed by a 4-3 margin Aug. 28. The new policy requires teachers and staff at all schools to inform parents if their child asks to be referred to by pronouns that differ from their sex assigned at birth. “The policy does not require district staff to ask about ... sexual orientation or gender identity,” board President Victor Perez said. “That is something that schools should absolutely not be asking about, whether in the classroom or in a counseling session or in a survey.”
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The policy states: • District staff are forbidden from asking a student about their gender or preferred pronouns. • Individuals in sex-specific spaces—such as bathrooms, locker rooms and changing facilities—are safeguarded and separated by their sex assigned at birth exclusively. • The pronouns used for persons on campus are consistent with the sex the person was assigned at birth. • Gender fluidity content is excluded from the classroom and instructional materials. • District staff are required to defer to parents on all gender- related issues.
SOURCE: KATY ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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What’s next
designated a student welfare administrator that will evaluate information shared with them and determine if parental contact is required per the new policy, according to a statement from KISD. Director of Communi- cations Craig Eichhorn said via email Sept. 6 that no new position or cost would be added. Instead, the role will be given to an existing administrator.
A notice was sent to all district personnel via email after the approval of the policy, which emphasizes parental authority on gender-fluidity matters. “District staff will notify par- ents if their child requests he or she be identified as transgender, change his or her name, or use different pronouns at school,” the email states. Each campus will be
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