Colorado school district hid student pronouns from parents for over a decade

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A Colorado school district has been intentionally hiding student pronouns from parents since 2013 – and…

Image via Facebook.

A Colorado school district has been intentionally hiding student pronouns from parents since 2013 – and its policy was used to determine statewide guidance.

An email exchange between a Jeffco Public Schools counselor and a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion specialist revealed the district’s practice of keeping parents in the dark about students’ preferred pronouns, Fox News reported.

“The question is whether as a school we have a due diligence to inform parents,” wrote school counselor Leslie Mecca. “In my opinion and from what I have gathered from diversity and LGBTQIA trainings is that… it is detrimental if we ‘out’ them to their parents.”

“Your opinion and gathered of what you learned from your training is correct,” diversity and equity specialist Nimita Weiss replied. “Student safety is your highest priority.”

The email exchange also included a “toolkit” for dealing with transgender students, pursuant to the district’s policy.

The policy, which was adopted in 2013, prohibits staff from sharing a student’s pronouns or name-change with parents without the student’s authorization. It also requires transgender students have access to bathrooms and locker rooms according to their gender-identity.

Jeffco’s rules eventually became a template for the Colorado Education Association and other statewide organizations when they created similar guidance in 2016. 

However, many Coloradans aren’t thrilled with the direction public education is headed. 

A recent survey reported that more than half of parents and 47% of all respondents believed public education was on the “wrong track.” 

And it’s no surprise as the state’s math and reading proficiency rates have bottomed out.  

In the Jeffco district, only half of high school students achieve proficiency in math, while 1 in 3 students fail to meet reading standards. And the scores are even worse in middle and elementary school.  

Moreover, the district is closing 16 schools due to low enrollment. Students will be consolidated into schools where less than half of current students meet grade level expectations.  

As Colorado and other likeminded states have implemented policies that undermine the parents’ role in raising their children, some states are working to pass bills that would codify parental rights.