Regional School Unit 40 has policy to keep gender identity of students hidden from parents; guidance states to ignore parents if they disagree with their children identifying as transgender

Parents Defending Education submitted a public records request to Regional School Unit 40 seeking any guidance on transgender issues. The district provided PDE with a policy titled “Transgender and Gender Expansive Students.” 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 explains 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 states: “If a student requests a change to their name and/or gender in school records without parental approval, the Superintendent 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: “The student should be addressed by school staff, substitutes, volunteers and other students by the name and pronoun corresponding to their gender identity that is asserted at school.” Students are also allowed to use the restrooms and locker rooms that match their preferred gender identity.

The district provided PDE with additional guidance dated January 13, 2016. This guidance notably states that parents will be ignored if they disagree with their children identifying as transgender:

In the event that the student and their parent/legal guardian do not agree with regard to the student’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, the educational institution should, whenever possible, abide by the wishes of the student with regard their gender identity and expression while at school.

The district provided PDE with a “Transgender and Gender Expansive Student Support Plan.” This plan allows students to choose their gender identity and preferred pronouns. This plan has a section specifically for “gender fluidity.”

The district also provided PDE with a document titled “Transgender and Gender Expansive Student Plan.”