The Sarasota County School District has officially released guidelines that serve as a framework for school leaders to ensure a safe and productive learning environment for all students—particularly LGBTQIA students. The guidelines function as an extension of the existing student anti-discrimination policy as set forth by the School Board and were thoughtfully created by a committee comprising school administrators, program specialists, students and community partners. The committee utilized best practices from other school districts, including Hillsborough and Broward counties and recent legal outcomes from St. Johns County to develop a unified practice throughout the school district. The guidelines emphasize the ability to recognize students who consistently assert a gender identity and meet the social and emotional needs of individual students. The guidelines are adaptable to provide each school community the ability to maintain student confidentiality and establish a level of trust among their student population. The guidelines also work to protect the civil rights of Sarasota County students and comply with Title VI, Title IX, Section 504 and ADA Title II discrimination policies.

View the SCS Gender Diverse Student Guidelines in PDF form.