SFUSD Respects Gender Identity
“This regulation is meant to advise school site staff and administration regarding transgender and gender non-conforming student concerns in order to create a safe learning environment for all students, and to ensure that every student has equal access to all components of their educational program.”
The San Francisco Unified School District is an early adopter in creating protections for students regarding their gender identity. Long before these protections emerged as a national civil rights issue, the SFUSD paved the way in creating policy that respects the rights of students across the gender spectrum.
In 2003 the Board of Education passed Regulation R5163a, which created a safe learning environment by protecting transgender and gender non-conforming students. The policy specifically outlines the rights of students to be free from harassment, to be addressed by their preferred pronoun, and to change school records to reflect legal name and gender changes.
This regulation also protects the rights of transgender students to use restrooms and locker rooms that correspond with their gender identity. SFUSD students have the legal right to dress in accordance with gender identity within the guidelines of individual school dress codes.
On February 22, 2017 President Trump reversed the Obama administration's policy that federally protected transgender students' rights to use the restrooms associated with their gender identity. The new policy set forth by the Trump adminstration sent the choice back to the state and school district level.
SFUSD was quick to respond. Board of Education President Shamman Walton and Interim Superintendent Myong Leigh shared a public statement stating that no changes will be made to current SFUSD policies.
“We will continue to honor those policies and ensure that transgender and gender nonconforming students in the SFUSD will remain protected from discrimination, bullying and harassment. ”