Delaware school district policy allows hiding transgender identities from parents

A Delaware public school district policy allows students to live out their transgender identities at school – including in locker rooms and sports – without the knowledge of their parents.

The three-year-old policy at Red Clay Consolidated School District says school personnel should use a student’s legal name and the pronouns that align with their anatomical sex – unless either the student or parent tells the school to do otherwise, according to a report from Parents Defending Education.

“Transgender and gender diverse students have the right to discuss and express their gender identity openly and to decide when, with whom, and how much to share private information,” the district policy says. 

“When contacting the parent or guardian of a transgender or gender diverse student, school personnel should use the student’s legal name and the pronoun corresponding to the student’s gender assigned at birth unless the student, parent, or guardian has specified otherwise.” 

Red Clay also orders its staff to call students by their preferred name and pronouns, even for students who identify as transgender. 

“A student has the right to be addressed by a name and pronoun that corresponds to the student’s gender identity as asserted at school,” the policy says. “A court-ordered name or gender change is not required, and the student need not change their official records.” 

Additionally, Red Clay’s policy says transgender-identifying students can use their preferred locker rooms, play on sports teams with the opposite sex and can take sex-segregated health classes covering male and female anatomy with students of the gender they identify with. 

The sports section of the policy has no restrictions for males competing in girls’ sports. 

“A transgender or gender diverse student shall be permitted to participate in interscholastic athletics in a manner consistent with the student’s gender identity as asserted at school and when the student meets the minimum standards designated by the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association (DIAA) Board of Directors,” the policy says. 

“The Superintendent or designee shall communicate these minimum standards as designated by the DIAA Board of Directors, including if and when such standards change, to the district’s middle and high schools to inform athletes and coaches of eligibility requirements.” 

Those who disagree with the district’s transgender policy and act against it could be found guilty of discrimination and harassment under school policy. 

“Complaints alleging discrimination or harassment based on a student’s actual or perceived transgender status or gender diversity are to be handled in the same manner as other discrimination or harassment complaints,” its policy says. 

Red Clay features 28 public schools in Wilmington and surrounding communities. 

Over 20,000 schools nationwide have policies directing personnel to hide students’ transgender identity from their parents.