A handful of Northern Virginia public school districts say they will not comply with federal efforts to stop letting transgender students use bathrooms and locker rooms that correspond with their gender identity.
Last month, the U.S. Department of Education asked Arlington Public Schools, Alexandria Public Schools as well as school districts in Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties to change policies regarding transgender student access to bathrooms and locker rooms. The DOE had asked the schools to separate facilities “strictly on the basis of sex” and to use the “biology-based definitions” of male and female in Title IX policies.
The schools had until August 15 to agree to comply. The DOE had said it would contact the Department of Justice regarding litigation for noncompliance.
But in separate statements Friday, the school districts for Arlington and Alexandria said they cited state and federal laws in claiming they can’t legally comply with the DOE directive.
“Arlington Public Schools will continue to foster an inclusive community for all, including students and staff who identify as members of the LGBTQIA+ community,” Superintendent Francisco Durán and School Board Chairwoman Bethany Zecher Sutton said in a joint statement. “We are proud that our core values include excellence, equity, and inclusion. …
“APS is committed to creating policies that ensure all students can learn in an inclusive environment that is safe, supportive and free from all forms of discrimination.”
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Author: Marty Kaufmann
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