CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. — The Chesterfield County School Board delayed voting on a transgender policy during its Tuesday night meeting.
The draft policy under consideration would adhere to Governor Youngkin’s 2023 Virginia Department of Education model policies, which:
- require parent approval for students to go by a different gender identity
- require students to use the bathroom that aligns with their biological gender at birth
All school boards in Virginia are encouraged to adopt and follow these policies, however, Chesterfield Schools does not currently follow Youngkin’s policy but instead uses a previous policy from former Governor Northam’s administration.
Dozens speak up at Chesterfield school board meeting about trans students rights in schools
The board decided to revisit the issue next month.
Parents and students filled the meeting to share their views on the issue.
“All we want is for our child to be comfortable, safe, and be able to focus on learning when he walks into school,” parent Nora Hazelgrove told board members. “The revised policies would change that for him… it will lead to a climate of increased anxiety, discrimination, create permission structure for othering and bullying and will force many kids into hiding.”