Keller ISD unanimously approved a new policy at last week’s school board meeting governing how students’ gender identities and preferred pronouns are handled.
The changes, which require teachers to use pronouns consistent with the gender listed on a student’s birth certificate, have drawn heavy criticism from some students and parents in the community, reported WFAA.
Under the newly adopted guidelines, Keller ISD staff must use pronouns that match the gender assigned at birth as indicated on official documents. Additionally, if a student wishes to use a different name or pronoun, their parents must be informed. Parents are also required to provide written consent for any changes to a student’s name or pronoun used in school records and communications.
Several students and parents voiced their concerns at the school board meeting, arguing that the new policies could negatively impact LGBTQ students by disregarding their preferred identities and potentially causing emotional distress, reported Fox 4 KDFW.
When adopting the policy, the board emphasized the need for clear and consistent procedures in managing student records and communications. The board said the guidelines are designed to balance individual student needs with legal and administrative requirements, according to Fox 4.
On August 22, the ACLU sent a letter to Keller ISD board members, warning the school district against supporting any rules that discriminate against LGBTQ students. An ACLU spokesperson told WFAA, “These unlawful and discriminatory policies would invade students’ privacy and create a hostile learning environment.”
Keller ISD said in response, “We have received that letter from the ACLU. As for the policy revisions on this evening’s agenda, those are focused on the fundamental rights of parents to make decisions concerning the upbringing, education, and care of their children,” per WFAA.
The school board also recently approved a resolution opposing the Biden administration’s push to include “gender identity” as a protected category under Title IX, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.