North Kitsap School District has policy to keep the gender identity of students a secret from parents

North Kitsap School District has a policy titled “Gender-Inclusive Schools” that explicitly states parents can be left in the dark regarding their children’s gender identity. The policy states: “Before contacting a student’s parents, the school will consult with the student about the student’s preferences regarding family involvement and honor those preferences.” The policy later explains that district staff “should not disclose a student’s transgender or gender nonconforming status to others, including the student’s parents and/or other school personnel, unless the school is (1) legally required to do so or (2) the student has authorized such disclosure.” Students can also choose how school staff will refer to them when speaking with parents:

An appropriate school employee will privately ask known transgender or gender nonconforming students how they would like to be addressed in class, in correspondence to the home, and at conferences with the student’s parent/guardian. That information will be included in the electronic student record system along with the student’s legal name in order to inform teachers and staff of the name and pronoun by which to address the student.

The policy adds: “The district will not condone the intentional and persistent refusal to respect a student’s gender identity, or inappropriate release of information regarding a student’s transgender status.” Students are also allowed to use restrooms and locker rooms and participate in sports according to their preferred gender identity. District staff will have training on “terms and concepts related to gender identity, gender expression, and gender diversity in children and adolescents.”