Some weeks back I wrote to you regarding transgender (LGBT) rights in U.S. public schools. The way that came about was that President Obama administration issued a directive on transgender rights to public schools from the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice. Texas and 11 other states asked the federal judge to halt the Obama administration directive on the transgender bathroom rights. Back in May the President Obama Administration told U.S. public schools that transgender students must be allowed to use bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their chosen gender identity. You might recall hearing that the Justice Department sued North Carolina over a state law that requires people to use public bathrooms that correspond with the sex on their birth certificate. U.S. Atty. Gen. Loretta Lynch likened this to racial segregation policies. Republicans argue that such laws are common sense privacy matters. It is not yet clear whether schools will lose federal funds yet. But, the President Obama administration did not rule out that possibility in court documents filed in July. The lawsuit was filed in May by Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Utah and Georgia and the GOP governors of Maine, Mississippi and Kentucky. *Schools in California receive substantial federal funding for Title 1, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, children with disabilities, School Nutrition funding -Child Nutrition Act helps to pay for children’s nutritious lunches. When bills are passed and approved, it is a significant development. Federal funding might be in jeopardy. Texas alone gets about $10 billion in federal education funds. Texas argues that this is a “massive social experiment. U. S. District Judge Reed O’Oconnor in Fort Worth heard states arguments that the Obama administration directive was unconstitutional and have sought a preliminary injunction to temporarily block the directive, which would pause its implementation. Assembly Bill (AB) 1266 has been approved by Governor Brown on August 12, 2013 in California; the “School Success and Opportunity Act,” It requires that pupils be permitted to participate in sex-segregated school programs, activities, and use facilities consistent with their gender identity, without respect to the gender listed in a pupil’s records. Assemblyman Ammiano stated “This bill is needed to ensure that transgender students are protected and have the same opportunities to participate and succeed as all other students.” “AB 1266 clarifies California’s student nondiscrimination laws by specifying that all students in K-12 schools must be permitted to participate in school programs, activities, and facilities in accordance with the student’s gender identity.” It is important to note that prior to the enactment of AB 1266, both state and federal law have prohibited gender-based discrimination for some time. I’ll endeavor to keep you informed. Teach your children at home. Jeanette Grattan Parker, Ph.D. Superintendent/Founder-Today’s Fresh Start Charter School, 4514 Crenshaw BL., LA 90043 323-293-9826 [writer, artist, educator, speaker, marriage expert (50+) Writings are copyright: “Will You Marry Me” and “Inquiring Minds Want To Know.”] [email protected]. Info from LATimes and CDE
