Virginia Beach City Public Schools
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Published – November 22, 2023
In October 2023, the Virginia Beach City School Board revised its “Treatment of Transgender Students 5-7.1” policy after voting to notify parents when a child changes his/her name, gender, or pronouns during school hours. The update was finalized after a year of student protests at board meetings.
According to News 13 Now, “The [board] voted to pass model policies on transgender students in a 9-1 vote…The model policies, finalized by Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration, are also criticized by advocates that say they target LGBTQ+ students.”
News 13 also pointed out that “Students will be required to use the sex listed on their official record for bathrooms, school activities and their biological sex for [Virginia High School League] sports that are separated by sex. The policies also require written instructions from parents for students to use names or gender pronouns that differ from the student’s official record.”
Under the revised policy’s Confidentiality of Information section, point #4 states:
“No policy, guidance, training, or other written material issued by the School Division may encourage or instruct teachers to conceal material information about a student from the student’s parent, including information related to gender. Provided that the School Division will comply with all laws that prohibit disclosure of information to parents, including but not limited to Code of Virginia § 22.1-272.1 (B), as amended, (prohibiting parental contact where student is at imminent risk of suicide related to parental abuse or neglect).”
The Virginia-Pilot reported, “The Virginia Beach School Board adopted regulation changes that will require parental permissions for students to go by nicknames and preferred names and pronouns, to receive counseling services pertaining to gender, and address facility use, such as bathrooms and locker rooms.”
The Virginia-Pilot continued, “The changes passed 9-1-1, with board member Jessica Owens voting against doping them. Board member Beverly Anderson abstained, saying that though she could support most changes, she could not support students having to get permission to go by preferred names.”
During the October 11 board meeting, the majority of students who signed up for public comment spoke against parental rights and challenged board members to reject the model policy.
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Published – October 4, 2021
The Virginia Beach City Public Schools district contains 86 schools that enroll 63,675 students. In a heated meeting, the Virginia Beach School board rejected a motion to make masks optional at the district’s schools. The school board is complying with a Virginia-state law that requires districts to follow CDC guidance in its Covid protocols. The CDC currently asks all students to wear masks while in the classroom regardless of vaccination status.
A new law regarding transgender students that was passed in 2020 is set to take effect in the fall 2021 semester as well. Employees at Virginia schools will now be forced to use a student’s preferred pronouns. Additionally, students that identify as transgender will be allowed to use bathrooms and locker rooms of their choosing, regardless of their gender.
Virginia Beach schools have also been accused of teaching critical race theory. In a recently leaked training, district teachers are taught how to confront their implicit bias and push anti-racism in the classroom. Board member Victoria Manning released a video condemning a book titled, “The Racial Healing Handbook” that she claims is being taught in Virginia Beach schools. The book condemns the “religious privilege” of Christians and claims that adults should have no say over what children do to their bodies.
