Pittsford Central School District adopts policy that keeps students’ new gender identity a secret from parents

On January 11, 2022, Pittsford Central School District adopted a policy titled “Student Gender Identity” that promotes the idea of “equity” as better than “equality.” The policy appears to explain that parents do not need to be involved when students change their names and pronouns in school. The policy explains: “When apprised of a student’s request for a name change the District will endeavor to engage the student and their parents/guardians, as appropriate, in an effort to develop a plan that will accommodate the student’s individual request at school.” The policy then mandates that “district staff will use the name and pronoun that corresponds to the gender identity the student asserts at school.”

The policy also mandates that transgender students “may use the student restroom and locker room that corresponds to the student’s expressed gender identity at school.” This policy additionally is in place for overnight field trips: “Generally, in other circumstances where students may be sex-segregated, such as overnight field trips, students may be permitted to participate in accordance with the gender identity that the student consistently asserts at school.”

The school district also promotes a “Dimensions of Diversity” wheel that points out specific identity traits of people. Specific traits include “gender identity,” “sexual orientation,” “race,” “ethnicity,” and “religion.” The school district published “Equity Goal Statements” for the 2021-2022 school year. One goal specifically mentioned the wheel: “Pittsford Central School District will create a media campaign, including a video montage, showing who we are. The campaign will highlight PCSD families that represent all areas on the diversity wheel. District leadership will work with the communications office and other resources as needed to launch the campaign by early January 2022.” The document also includes goals to change the curriculum for students to include equity initiatives and to provide equity training for teachers.