Board of Education Approves Rule to Inform Parents if Transgenders Can Use Preferred Bathrooms, Locker Rooms
TALLAHASSEE (FLV) – Wednesday, the Florida Board of Education approved rule 6A-10.086 to provide parents and students “full knowledge” of how the school’s bathrooms and locker rooms are designated by gender.
The rule will require school districts to notify parents if bathrooms and locker rooms will be separated by any reason other than “biological sex at birth.”
The Board was faced with intense opposition from audience members, including State Rep. Anna Eskamani, a Democrat, who spoke against the rule at the meeting. Some speakers said the rule would encourage bullying or place undue emotional distress on students.
It “recognizes the rights of parents,” chairman Tom Grady said. “It’s about parental notification.”
The vote on the motion to approve garnered resounding support from the Board members, including Education Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr.
The rule’s stated purpose is to “protect the fundamental rights of parents to ensure they are fully informed of how bathrooms are designated and how locker rooms, which include dressing rooms, are designated and supervised.”
“This rule will ensure full transparency to enhance the health, safety and welfare of students when utilizing bathrooms and locker rooms and protect parental rights.”
This rule will allow both students and parents to have full knowledge if bathrooms and locker rooms will not be separated by biological sex at birth; therefore, allowing them to make informed decisions and requests for accommodations or modification. The rule includes requirements for school district procedures and for parental notification when a policy provides for separation based on something other than sex at birth.
Rule 6A-10.086
Read the full rule here.
The Board also approved an amendment to Rule 6A-1.0955, which is meant to “protect student privacy when students are required to use online educational services or when districts contract with third party vendors or service providers.”
For more information on the board meeting, read here.
