Springfield Public Schools has guidance that appears to explain the gender identity of students can be hidden from parents

Parents Defending Education submitted a public records request to Springfield Public Schools seeking any guidance the district has on transgender issues. The district provided PDE with a document titled “Transgender Student Recommendations.” The document does mention working with parents. However, the document also states:

Every student has the right to be addressed by a name and pronoun that corresponds to the student’s gender identity. It is recommended that school staff privately ask transgender students and their parents/guardians how they want to be addressed in class, in correspondence to the home, or at conferences with the student’s parents/guardians. A student’s legal name will be reflected in the student information system.

School districts usually use language such as “in correspondence to the home” and “at conferences with the student’s parents/guardians” to explain that students can choose how district staff will refer to them to their parents. This allows students to keep their gender identity and preferred pronouns a secret from their parents.

The district provided PDE with another document titled “Student Pronouns Recommendations.” This document specifically provides instructions for when parents disagree with their children identifying as another gender: “If the parent does not give consent for school staff to refer to the child by their name of choice or pronoun, the school counselor should work with students (and family, when appropriate) to develop a plan that meets the needs of the student and family and fosters best educational outcomes.”

The district appears to explain in this document that even if parents disagree, the district will continue to move forward with allowing students to identify as transgender.

The district’s transgender guidance is also mentioned in a document titled “2024-2025 Administrative Practices and Procedures.”