Maine School Administrative District 15 has policy to keep gender identity of students hidden from parents; policy was created by Maine School Boards Association

Parents Defending Education submitted a public records request to the Maine School Administrative District 15 seeking any guidance on transgender issues. The district provided PDE with a policy titled “Transgender and Gender Expansive Students.” The superintendent of the school district explained to PDE that the policy was created by the Maine School Boards Association (MSBA). This policy explicitly states that the gender identity of students can be hidden from parents:

In the case of a student who has not yet informed their parent(s)/guardian(s), the administrator should first discuss parent/guardian involvement with the student to avoid inadvertently putting the student at risk by contacting their parent(s)/guardian(s). The student will be notified by the administrator prior to contacting their parent(s)/guardian(s).

The policy later builds on this point that parents may not be involved: “If a student requests a change to their name and/or gender in school records without parental approval, the Superintendent or designee should be consulted, and the matter resolved on a case by case basis.”

Staff and students are mandated to use the preferred pronouns of other students. Students are also allowed to use the restrooms and locker rooms that match their preferred gender identity.