Jerome Joint School District No. 261

STUDENTS 3281

Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation

The Board believes in fostering an educational environment that is safe and free of discrimination for all students,

regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. This policy is designed to create a safe

learning environment for all students and to ensure that every student has equal access to all school programs and

activities.

Definitions

"Sexual orientation" shall mean an individual's physical or emotional attraction to the same and/or the opposite

gender. "Gay," "lesbian,” "bisexual" and "straight" are all examples of sexual orientations. A person's sexual

orientation is distinct from a person's gender Identity and expression.

"Gender identity" shall refer to a person's deeply felt internal sense of their own gender.

"Gender expression" shall refer to how a person expresses their gender to others, often through behavior, clothing,

hairstyles, activities, voice, or mannerisms.

"Transgender", an adjective, shall refer to a person whose gender identity or expression is different from that

traditionally associated with the person's sex assigned at birth.

“Gender Non Conforming”, not adhering to societies gender norms.

School Facilities

In the case of middle/junior high school students and high school students, the principal or building administrator is

encouraged to request a meeting with a transgender student and, if the student grants permission, with their

parent/guardian upon the student's enrollment in the District or in response to a currently enrolled student's change

of gender expression or identity. The goal of the meeting is to develop understanding of that student's needs with

respect to their gender Identity. If the student requests a formal gender support plan, parental permission is

required.

In the case of elementary school students, it will generally be the parent/guardian that informs the school of the

impending transition. However, if the school's staff believe that a gender identity or expression issue is presenting

itself and creating difficulty for the child at school, it may be appropriate for the school' s administrative staff

and/or counselor to approach the student's parent/guardian about the issue. An individual teacher shall not

approach a student' parent/legal guardian to address such a student situation without first conferring with the

school's administration about the subject and obtaining permission to enter into such a discussion. A meeting may

be held at the request of the student's parent/guardian or at the request of the principal or building administrator.

Together, the family and school can identify appropriate steps, if any, to support the student.

School Activities

Activities under the direction of the Idaho High School Activities Association (IHSAA) shall be subject to IHSAA

Rules and regulations.

Student Records and Privacy

The District's official records required by law shall utilize a student's legal name. In situations where State or

federal law or administrative rules require school employees to use or report a student's legal name or gender,

such legal name or gender shall be utilized. However, school staff shall use practices to avoid the inadvertent

disclosure of the student's transgender status.

Information regarding a student's sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, legal name, or gender

assigned at birth may constitute confidential information. Disclosure of such Information shall be in accordance

with District policies pertaining to student privacy. The student's educational record shall not include mention

of the student's sexual orientation.

A student is not required to legally change their name, gender, or official school records as a prerequisite to the

use of a name and the pronouns consistent with the student's identity.

Change of Official School Records

District records required by law to include the student's legal name and/or gender will be changed by the District

upon the student or former student's presentation of appropriate documentation to the District Office. Any

current or former student may present to the Superintendent or designee responsible for student records a copy

of a court order or birth certificate identifying a change the student's legal name and/or gender. The student's

records will be changed accordingly.

Confidentiality

School employees should not disclose a student's transgender status or sexual orientation to other Individuals,

regardless of setting, including the other school personnel or (m the case of middle school, junior high school, and

high school students) the student's parents/guardians, unless they have a legitimate need to know or unless the

student has authorized such disclosure.

Training

The District may conduct staff development or awareness activities for students or parents on transgender issues

or gender diversity. However, in regard to such activities the District and Its personnel shall not disclose the

transgender status of any student without permission of that student and their parents/guardians.

Dress Codes

School dress codes shall be gender neutral in all situations, including attire during the traditional school day, school

activities including dances and prom, and graduation. The District will allow students to dress in a manner that is

consistent with their gender identity within the constraints of the dress codes and any other rules regarding student

attire.

School Dances

The District shall not impose different or unique practices or rules for same sex couples who attend and/or

participate in school activities, including dances. This includes such matters as prohibition of attendance of same

sex student couples, limitations of public displays of affection only applicable to same sex couples, discounted

couples tickets, gender identity for dance court titles that correspond to birth sex, and other such distinctions.

Safe Environment

It is the responsibility of the District to ensure all students, including LGBT students, have a safe school

environment. Discrimination, harassment, bullying, or sexual harassment complaints involving LGBT students shall

be handled In the same manner as other discrimination, harassment, bullying, and sexual harassment complaints

Cross References: 2140 Student and Family Privacy Rights

3255 Student Dress

3280 Equal Education Nondiscrimination and Sex Equity

3290 Sexual Harassment / intimidation of Students

3295 Hazing, Harassment, Intimidation, Bullying, Cyber Bullying, Menacing

3575 Student Data Privacy and Security

Legal References: 20 U.S.C. $ 1681, et seq. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

I.C. $ 33-133(l)(j)(ii) Definitions - Student Data — Use and Limitations – Penalties

Other Reference: Idaho High School Activities Association, Current Rules and Regulations Manual Rule 11-3

Transgender Student Participation

Policy History:

Adopted on: 07/19/2022

Revised on: 11/15/2022