Maine School Administrative District 51 has policy that appears to explain students can identify as transgender at school without parental knowledge or consent

Maine School Administrative District 51 has a policy in place titled “Transgender Students Guidelines.” The policy is very similar to a policy that PDE received from a public records request to Maine School Administrative District 15 in which the superintendent of the district explained to PDE that the policy was created by the Maine School Boards Association (MSBA). The policy appears to explain that students can contact district administrators about gender identity issues without parental knowledge. The policy states that students “or” parents can reach out:

A transgender student and/or his/her parent(s)/guardian(s) should contact the building administrator or the student’s guidance counselor.

The policy mandates that staff and students use the preferred pronouns of other students: “A student who has been identified as transgender under these guidelines should be addressed by school staff and other students by the name and pronoun corresponding to their gender identity that is consistently asserted at school.” Students are also allowed to use the restrooms and locker rooms that match their preferred gender identity.