Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration recently released new guidance for public schools on transgender issues and requires students to only use facilities and play on sports teams that are associated with their biological sex. Several of Virginia’s school districts have publicly taken a stand against the Youngkin policy. Loudoun County school board member Tiffany Polifko believes Youngkin cannot do much against these school districts because the model policy does not have legal weight.
Polifko said Parents have been “starved” of their rights because under Northam schools did what they wanted without telling parents. Although Youngkin’s model policy appears to be a win for parental rights, parents cannot just sit back and think that their and their child’s rights are guaranteed said Polifko.
“A policy like this does not have any teeth, because it is not law,” said Polifko said during an Aug. 21 radio interview with Vince Coglianese.
There are no consequences for school systems that choose not to adopt Youngkin’s model policies, they’re not going to lose their funding, and at most individuals can come forward and sue the school system, said Polifko.
At first glance the policy seems to be meaningful and giving parents back their rights, but with a deeper look into the policy it’s clear more is needed to honestly give parents their rights back, said Polifko.
“What’s not to like about this, right? We’re going to uphold First Amendment rights. We’re going to make sure that the 14th Amendment is honored. We’re going to make sure that parents have a say because they’re the ones who should be directing the education and upbringing of their children.”
However, Polifko believes there are two key issues with the model policy.
“Number one, we need to ask questions about what it looks like when parents are going to have to opt their children out of sharing a restroom with students who identify as transgender,” said Polifko.
Polifko thinks the school district’s procedure for opting kids out of transgender bathrooms does not have specific steps and options for parents who do not subscribe to the transgender ideology.
“That is something that should scare every single parent because we see what’s happening right now. Across the country, with the notion that if you don’t affirm a child, they’re going to commit suicide. And if a child comes in and says, I’m suicidal because my parents aren’t going to accept the position that I’m in, they’re not going to accept the fact that I identify as trans,” said Polifko.
“I cannot give my rubber stamp of approval just because Governor Younkin says parents matter and throws out a few freedom cries.”
One of the key arguments used by leftist school officials to advocate for secrecy from parents is that the child is at risk of emotional or physical harm from the parent or will commit suicide if the school counselor/staff tells the parents about the change in gender.
The Epoch Times reached out to Youngkin’s office for comment and to ask about Polifko’s concern.
“My understanding is that based on where we’re at, there is no mechanism in the model policy statute to punish the school board if they fail to adopt these model policies,” Polifko said.
As far as Loudoun County Public Schools’ adoption of the new policy, Polifko said it will take some time before there is a response from her district and the Loudoun County School Board because there is a process where subcommittees consider the policy and then present it to the whole board for a vote.
