The District has adopted procedures for student gender support related to Board Policy 7:10 - Equal Educational Opportunities. In furthering our commitment to fostering a learning environment open to all students, free of any sort of discrimination or harassment, District 65 has adopted a set of procedures to promote inclusive learning environments for its transgender and gender expansive students.

Gender Support Administrative Procedures  (updated February 2020)

Procedures include the development of an individualized Gender Support Plan for students upon request. The Gender Support Plan will address the student's needs concerning:

Access to restrooms and other gender-segregated spaces

1. Transgender and gender expansive students shall have access to gendered facilities and programs that are consistent with their gender identity.

Names, pronouns, and gender markers

1. Students shall be referred to by a name and pronouns that correspond to their gender identity by all school staff and students.
2. Court-ordered or medical/psychological documentation is not required to change a student’s name or gender marker with the District.

Confidentiality

1. Student’s transgender identity will only be disclosed to those authorized by the student or their parent(s)/guardian(s).
2. In some cases, transgender students may feel more supported if other students are aware that they are transgender. The District will work closely with the student and their family to plan how to educate peers.

Other aspects that may arise, such as school trips, health education, etc.

A district-wide Gender Support Team will oversee the implementation of these procedures. The Gender Support Team will have a representative School Coordinator from each school, typically a social worker. The Gender Support Team and School Coordinator can develop an individualized Gender Support Plan for students upon request.

The Gender Support Team is tasked with ensuring all District staff are aware of the procedures and understand the different aspects of the Gender Support Plan.

Educators and staff will make their best efforts not to segregate students by gender in any of their practices or activities. If students are subjected to a gender-specific practice, students shall participate in a way that is consistent with their gender identity.

Schools must be vigilant for any mistreatment, bullying, or harassment based on gender identity for all its students, and especially transgender and gender expansive students. Schools must respond promptly to any allegations of mistreatment and must also work to prevent these issues.

Gender Support Plan

This document shall be used to create a shared understanding about the ways in which the student’s authentic gender will be accounted for and supported at school. This document will include details on the school personnel responsible for supporting and enforcing the plan, the student’s safety, use of facilities, the student’s extracurricular activities, and additional considerations.

Student Information Change Request Form

This form shall be used to request any changes pertaining to student information within District 65’s student information system, third party systems, and state reporting.

Affidavit of Parentage Form

This form shall be used in the event a parent/guardian requests to make the original birth certificate/document for a student private in District 65’s Student Information System. This form must be notarized and will be used as proof of birth in the place of the original birth certificate/document. This form will also be used to identify the biological parents and include the student’s new information that was submitted in the “Student Information Change Request Form.”

Resources

Gender 101 Resource List (Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago)

10 Tips About Using Pronouns (Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago)

LGBTQ Key Terms (Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago)