522.1 AP: GENDER IDENTITY
522.1 AP: GENDER IDENTITY
Revised: June 5, 2024
Revised: July 2025
Reviewed: October 20, 2025
Reviewed, Revised: January 2026
Approved: February 4, 2026
522.1 ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE: GENDER IDENTITY
I. PURPOSE
Our efforts in this district in addressing safety and bullying should be in compliance with the expectations embedded in the Minnesota Safe and Supportive Schools Act.
Students are protected from discrimination on the basis of sex pursuant to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and on the basis of sex and sexual orientation pursuant to the Minnesota Human Rights Act. Under Title IX, sex includes failure to conform to sex-based stereotypes.
Under the Minnesota Human Rights Act, sexual orientation includes gender identity and gender expression. The purpose of this administrative procedure is to assist administrators and district staff in providing a safe, secure and dignified educational and work atmosphere for all students and staff. Please review this guidance in preparation for future situations that may arise involving transgender and gender diverse students and staff and refer back to it when needed. If issues arise that are not addressed within this administrative procedure or more information and support is desired, please contact the superintendent or superintendent designee for assistance.
II. DEFINITIONS
- “Gender” refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviors, activities, and attributes that a given society attaches to femininity or masculinity
- “Gender Identity” is a person’s deeply held sense or psychological knowledge of their own gender. A person’s gender identity can be the same or different from the sex or gender assigned at birth.
- “Sex Assigned at Birth” refers to the sex designation recorded on an infant’s birth certificate should such a record be provided at birth.
- “Gender Expression” refers to the manner in which a person represents or expresses that person’s gender identity to others, often through behavior, clothing, hairstyles, activities, or mannerisms. Although transgender people typically seek to make their gender expression match their gender identity, rather than their sex assigned at birth, gender expression may or may not conform to a person’s gender identity.
- “Gender Expansive” is an umbrella term that is used to describe individuals whose gender expression, gender identity, or gender role is fluid and/or may differ from gender norms associated with their sex assigned at birth. This term also includes people who identify outside of traditional gender categories or identify as both or several genders. Other terms that can have a similar meaning include “gender diverse,” “gender non-conforming,” “genderqueer,” and “nonbinary.”
- “Transgender/Trans” describes people whose gender identity or expression is different from that traditionally associated with an assigned sex at birth. Transgender identity is not dependent on medical procedures or other physical changes.
- “Transition” refers to the process in which transgender individuals begin asserting the sex that corresponds to their gender identity instead of the sex they were assigned at birth.
III. SAFETY AND BULLYING
Address bullying and name-calling consistently and equitably. This includes name-calling and bullying based on gender stereotypes. Address claims of discrimination or harassment based on the person’s gender identity as one would all other types of claims.
IV. NAMES AND PRONOUNS
At the student’s and/or parent’s/guardian’s request, a transgender and/or gender expansive student in all grades has the right to be referred to at school by a name and pronouns that align with their gender identity. At the parent’s/guardian’s request, a transgender or gender expansive student in all grades has the right to be referred to at school by name and pronouns that align with the student’s gender identity.
V. FACILITIES
The district will work to provide options-based universal access to facilities, based on need. This is considered a best practice for all students as it allows equitable access for all.
- Bathrooms
Provide students and staff with access to restrooms that correspond to the gender identity the student or staff consistently asserts at school and make accessible a single-stall gender neutral restroom that is available to all students and staff and required of none.
- Locker Rooms
Provide students with access to a locker room that corresponds to the gender identity the student consistently asserts at school. Alternate changing facilities are available to all students and required of none. Schools will work with students to make reasonable accommodations based on individual situations. For example, the person could be given access to a single stall gender non-specific or staff restroom, use of the Physical Education Office facility, or a private room for changing purposes.
VI. GENDERED ACTIVITIES
Avoid using gender as a characteristic for divisions whenever possible. When groups are separated by gender, allow students to self-select the group in which they would feel most comfortable.
School Trips:
All students shall be permitted to participate in all school trips in a manner that corresponds with their gender identity. In planning school trips, staff is expected to assess the student’s needs in collaboration with the student and/or the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) and make reasonable efforts to provide an acceptable accommodation to the student. Accommodations will be discussed in advance of the trip on a case-by-case basis.
VII. FORMS, STUDENT RECORDS, AND STUDENT DATABASE
The district is committed to updating forms and records to allow for students and families to report preferred name in addition to legal name and gender identity (male, female or non-binary) in addition to sex assigned at birth.
Students have the option to either update their preferred name and pronouns in the system (requires student signature) and/or to amend their identity. In the state of Minnesota, a minor amending their identity, specifically a legal name change, requires a parent, guardian, or next of kin to file a petition with the district court. Diplomas, transcripts and state testing materials will reflect the student’s legal name. Students may request a duplicate diploma reflecting their preferred name.
Name or Gender Identification Change Request
VIII. PRIVACY
School staff will be mindful of and uphold the right to privacy of our transgender and gender non-conforming students. Information will be shared with school staff about a specific student on a need-to-know basis. The student’s well-being will be at the center of all decisions.
IX. DISSEMINATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE AND EVALUATION
- This administrative procedure shall be made available to all students, parents/guardians of students, staff members, employee unions and organizations.
- The school district shall review this administrative procedure and the school district’s operation for compliance with state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination on a continuous basis.
Legal References:
- Minn. Stat. § 121A.04 (Athletic Programs; Sex Discrimination)
- Minn. Stat. Ch. 363A (Minnesota Human Rights Act)
- 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681-1688 (Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972)
- 34 C.F.R. Part 106 (Implementing Regulations of Title IX)
- 20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99 (Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act)
Cross Reference:
- RAS Policy 102.1 Equity Policy