Logan School District has vague transgender policy regarding if gender identity of students will be hidden from parents; policy was created by Utah School Boards Association

Parents Defending Education submitted a public records request to the Logan School District seeking any transgender guidance used for students. The school district provided PDE with a policy titled “Transgender Students.” The policy states that “changes to the unofficial record of a student, who is a minor, require the approval of the student’s parent or guardian.” However, the policy then states:

A student’s transgender status shall not be disclosed without the student’s consent except as expressly authorized by the superintendent following such legal consultation as the superintendent determines is appropriate.

The policy does not make it clear if this includes refusing to disclose a student’s transgender status to parents.

District staff must also use the preferred pronouns of students: “Students shall be addressed or referred to by the pronouns associated with the identified gender.” The policy additionally appears to explain that students can use the restrooms and locker rooms that match their preferred gender identity.

PDE submitted a second public records request to the district asking where the language of the policy originated. The school district explained that the policy was created by the Utah School Boards Association (USBA). The district also provided PDE with the USBA’s model template that does state the gender identity of students can be hidden from parents:

When the parent of a transgender student is given the required notification of a bullying or harassment incident against a transgender student which is motivated by transgender status or gender expression, care should be taken to avoid disclosing the student’s transgender status to the student’s parents if the student has not consented to such disclosure.