WCPS adopts required policy affecting gender-related use of restrooms, other accommodations
WARREN COUNTY, Ky. – With the approaching school year, the deadline to implement a school policy based on the passage of Senate bill 150 is here.
Senate Bill 150 is widely known as the anti-trans bill and is a controversial new law that does not require school officials to use students’ requested pronoun if it is different from their biological sex.
The new law also changes the way sexual education is taught in school.
The Warren County Public Schools district has adopted a policy that does not allow students to use restrooms, locker rooms or showers that are reserved for a different biological sex. That means each student must use the facilities designated for their biological sex.
According to a section of KRS 158.189 provided by WCPS, the board is required to adopt some new policies “necessary to protect the privacy rights for students.”
KRS 158.189 additionally says the policy “does not allow students to use restrooms, locker rooms or shower rooms that are reserved for students of a different biological sex.”
Continuing, the section of KRS 158.189 says, “A student who asserts to school officials that his or her gender is different from his or her biological sex and whose parent or legal guardian provides written consent to school officials shall be provided with the best available accommodation, but that accommodation shall not include the use of school restrooms, locker rooms or shower rooms designated for use by students of the opposite biological sex while students of the opposite biological sex are present or could be present.”
In addition, the section says “acceptable accommodations include but are not limited to access to single-stall restrooms or controlled use of faculty bathrooms, locker rooms or shower rooms.”
Also under the new law, sexual education topics can only be taught to students in grade six or higher, and the schools must give parents a two weeks notice ahead of the instruction as an opportunity to opt students out of the course.
The Kentucky Department of Education has been assisting schools districts across the commonwealth with the implementation of this policy in time for the upcoming school year.
