Rio Rancho Public Schools has gender support plan with vague guidelines determining if parents are involved

Parents Defending Education submitted a public records request to Rio Rancho Public Schools seeking any guidance from the district regarding transgender issues for students. The school district provided PDE with a document labeled as an “Individual Support Plan.” This gender support plan is unclear if parents need to be involved with their children transitioning to another gender at school. At one point, the plan states that the completion of a plan “shall be signed by the Principal or Designee, Parent/Guardian, and Student.” The plan also states that “a copy should be provided to the parent/guardian.”

However, the plan also states that the process can be started when a “student or parent/guardian” contact the “principal or designee.” This language is often used when the gender identity of students can be hidden from parents. The meeting for this plan will discuss “preferred name to be used,” “preferred pronouns,” “preferred gender,” “bathroom,” “locker room,” “which personnel the parent/student consents to having information about the legal name/gender,” and “athletic issues.” Students appear to be able to use the restrooms and locker rooms that match their preferred gender identity.

The plan also includes a list of resources for parents and students. One resource on the list is GLSEN. The organization GLSEN is known for promoting LGBTQ issues to young children. GLSEN states on its website that “while many LGBTQ+-inclusive school supports begin in middle or high school, it is critical for elementary schools to establish a foundation of respect and understanding for all people.” The organization has also appeared to show support for children taking “hormone replacement therapy” to transition to another gender:

Upon birth, we are typically categorized into one of two genders (boy or girl) depending on how our genitals are read. Throughout our lives, however, our many bodily characteristics work together to create a unique path of development, causing some of us to grow really tall, and others to remain short, or some of us to grow hair under our armpits and legs, while others remain bare. While this development often happens on its own during puberty, this change can also be administered through medicine, such as hormone replacement therapy. Since our society often conflates our bodies (or genitalia) with our gender identity, it is critical that we allow space for people to self-identify.