BOISE, Idaho – With a few notable exceptions, school districts around the nation are bowing to pressure from the federal government and allowing transgender students to use the restrooms and locker rooms of their preference, even if that means there are biological boys undressing in girls facilities, and vice versa.
Influential progressives in Idaho would like their school districts to do the same, but for the most part the 115 districts are ignoring their advice and honoring the sentiments of state residents.
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Earlier this year the Idaho School Board Association sent a new “Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation” policy to school districts across the state for their consideration, according to the Associated Press.
The policy would allow transgender students to use the restroom and shower facilities matching their self-perception, in accordance with a U.S. Department of Education ruling that such access is protected by the Title IX gender discrimination law.
The policy also says same-sex couples must be treated equally during school functions and dress codes must be gender neutral.
But according to the AP, all but one school district, Teton, has either rejected or ignored the proposed policy. The school board association can only recommend policies, not impose them.
Not all districts are ignoring the proposed policy offhand, but seem to be approaching it cautiously. That’s far different than many school districts nationwide, which are quickly falling in step with federal guidelines, due to at threat from the Department of Education to withhold federal funding if they fail to do so.
“We have some questions that we wanted clarified,” Eric Anderson, superintendent of the Hagerman School District, was quoted as saying in a story published by Advocate.com. “This is the first time we’ve seen anything like this.”
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Several larger districts, like Boise, have adopted their own more progressive policies regarding transgender students, but have not adopted the recommended policy of the school board association.
The majority of districts are clearly in step with the mood of the state. A recent Idaho Politics Weekly poll revealed that 56 percent of respondents oppose the recommended school policy while only 36 percent support it, according to the AP.


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