Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District has policy to keep gender identity of students secret from parents

The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District has a guidance document posted online with a section titled “Ensuring Equal Opportunity and Freedom from Harassment for Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Students and Staff.” The school district explicitly tells staff in the policy to keep the gender identity of students a secret from parents:

All persons have a right to privacy, which includes the right to keep one’s transgender status private at school. Information about a student’s transgender status, legal name, or gender assigned at birth may constitute confidential medical information. Disclosing this information to other staff, students, their parents or other third parties may violate privacy laws and policies.

The district further explains in the policy: “Staff members should not disclose information about a student’s gender identity or gender expression to others unless legally obligated or expressly given permission by the student.” The district explains that “the fact that a student chooses to disclose his or her transgender status to others does not authorize school staff to disclose information.”

The district also mandates that staff use the preferred pronouns and names of students: “Refer to all students by their preferred name and gender pronouns whenever possible.” Students are also allowed to use the bathrooms and participate in sports according to their preferred gender identity.