Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin has overhauled the model policies set forth by the state for school districts dealing with gender ideology. In them, he reasserts the First-Amendment freedom of teachers and staff not to be compelled to promote political or ideological beliefs against their will, and the primacy of parents in raising their children how they see fit, under the 14th Amendment. “Schools shall defer to parents to make the best decisions with respect to their children,” the new policy states.
It’s a welcome correction to a grievous error. In 2021, Democratic governor Ralph Northam had issued model policies reflecting the agenda of gender ideology. Schools that adopted them would “allow students to assert a name and gender pronouns that reflect their gender identity without any substantiating evidence,” and would oblige administrators and teachers to use these, to amend previous school documents, and to reissue documents with amended names for previous students of the school. Northam’s policies would require schools to provide access to girls’ restrooms and locker rooms to boys who identified as girls.
One of the most important updates is the state’s championing of the obligation of schools to be straight with parents, to “keep parents fully informed about all matters that may be reasonably expected to be important to a parent, including, and without limitation, matters related to their child’s health, and social and psychological development.” It reminds school districts that the code of Virginia requires that a minor can only change their name upon the application of a parent and requires informing both parents if there is a discrepancy.
The new policy “delivers on the governor’s commitment to preserving parental rights and upholding the dignity and respect of all public school students,” Youngkin’s press secretary Macaulay Porter told the AP.
In some ways, this policy is backing up what many Virginia school districts are already doing. Many districts ignored or openly repudiated guidelines set by the previous administration.
On the other hand, the new policies, for better or worse, don’t expect public schools on their own to halt the social mania driving student adoption of new gender identities. They recommend that schools make accommodations for “any student with a persistent and sincere belief that his or her gender differs from his or her sex” and suggest the potential use of “single-user” bathrooms that are accessible to all students. Bending to the times, but not breaking.
The model policies also firmly limit the state’s role. The previous guidelines provided cover for schools to help effect “social transition” of students without notice given or consent obtained from parents. The new guidelines, if followed, would take schools out of the role of initiating “transition” of students at all.
It should go without saying that public schools should not be engaged in conspiratorial behavior with minors against the will and wishes of their own parents. But, in Virginia after 2021, it had to be said. We commend Glenn Youngkin’s administration for saying so.