In St. Vrain Valley Schools, there is nothing we take more seriously than the safety and well-being of every student who walks through our doors. Fostering the development of a child into a healthy and productive young adult is a very complex and multifaceted endeavor. To ensure that we are creating an environment that will best serve our students, we partner very closely with families to understand and meet the needs of every child. Working collaboratively with students, parents, teachers, coaches and child development experts, we serve our community by providing a positive, enriching environment that will help every student reach their highest academic potential.

St. Vrain Anti-Discrimination Policies

• Board Policy AC: Nondiscrimination/Equal Opportunity
  Specific Text – “No otherwise qualified student, employee, applicant for employment or member of the public shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to unlawful discrimination under any district program or activity on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, gender (which includes marital status and pregnancy), sexual orientation (which includes transgender and gender identity), disability or need for special education services.”
• Board Policy GBA: Open Hiring/Equal Employment Opportunity
  Specific Text – “Therefore, the district shall promote and provide for equal opportunity in recruitment, selection, promotion and dismissal of all personnel. Commitment on the part of the district towards equal employment opportunity shall apply to all people without regard to race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation (which includes transgender), religion, national origin, ancestry, age, genetic information, marital status, or conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, or disability.”
• Board of Education Policy JB: Equal Educational Opportunities
  Specific Text – “Every student of this school district shall have equal educational opportunities throughprograms offered in the school district regardless of race, color, ancestry, creed, sex, sexual orientation (which includes transgender), religion, national origin, marital status, disability or need for special education services.”

St. Vrain Transgender/Gender Nonconforming Guidelines

All SVVSD schools are using the “Guidance for Educators Working with Transgender and Gender NonConforming Students” document from One Colorado as guidelines for transgender and gender nonconforming students. Details:

• The Colorado Civil Rights Commission rules (also Division of Regulatory Agencies “DORA” Rules) define the scope of statute SB08-200 as affording protections to individuals based on the following:
  • Transgender means those individuals “having a gender identity or gender expression that differs from societal expectations based on gender assigned at birth.”
  • Gender identity means an individual’s “innate sense of one’s own gender,” a deeply held sense or psychological knowledge of one’s own gender, regardless of the gender assigned at birth.
  • Gender expression means “external appearance, characteristics, or behaviors typically associated with a specific gender.” Gender expression is the way we communicate our gender identity to others. Gender nonconforming describes people whose gender expression differs from stereotypical expectations, such as “feminine” boys, “masculine” girls, and those who are perceived as androgynous.
• Discusses the following topics
  • Policies on Nondiscrimination, Bullying and Harassment
  • Process
  • Restrooms and Locker Rooms
  • Privacy at School
  • Official Records
  • Working with Families
  • Names and Pronouns
  • Dress Code
  • Athletics
  • Public Charter Schools

St. Vrain has also developed Gender Identification Guiding Document to support school administration and staff in ensuring support and success for all students.

Resources for Parents

• PFLAG Boulder County –  active in the Boulder County communities. There is a parent support group held once a month at the Longmont Library, on the 4th Monday of the month at 7:00pm.
• Out Boulder County – Out Boulder County does education, advocacy  and provides services, programs and support to Boulder County’s LGBTQ+ communities, reaching over 9,000 people each year. 
• St. Vrain Valley Safe Schools Coalition (SVVSSC) – community members from many different agencies and backgrounds, working together to foster school environments that are safe for persons of all sexual-orientations and gender-identities through advocacy, education and empowerment. 
• OASOS – Part of the BOCO Public Health Department, OASOS is for  LGBTQ+ youth 13-18 (12 with parent/guardian permission). Contact OASOS for a current list of the GSA (Gay Straight Alliance/Gender & Sexuality Alliance) clubs at SVVSD high schools and middle schools.
• Human Rights Campaign – Envisions a world where every member of the LGBTQ+ family has the freedom to live their truth without fear, and with equality under the law.
• TYES – Trans Youth Education and Support – This is a local support group for gender variant children and their families. Contact them for information about meetings and resources. 
• One Colorado – One Colorado is a statewide advocacy organization dedicated to securing and protecting equality and opportunity for LGBTQ+ Coloradans and their families.  
• Gender Spectrum –  We help families, organizations, and institutions increase understandings of gender and consider the implications that evolving views have for each of us. 
• Colorado Name Change Project – Information and guidance on changing name and gender in public documents for the state of Colorado. 
• GLSEN – National organization with a mission is to create safe and affirming schools for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. 
• GLAAD – A national organization that rewrites the script for LGBTQ+ acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love. 

If you are looking for additional resources for supporting the success of our students, please contact Student Services at 303-772-7700.