The Downey Unified School District, which was accused of discriminating against a transgender elementary school student, has settled a claim with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, according to the agency.
“The complaint alleged that the District discriminated against a transgender student by failing to respond adequately to complaints that the student was subjected to verbal harassment by peers and that staff at the student’s school disciplined her for wearing make-up, discouraged her from speaking about her gender identity with classmates and suggested that she transfer to another school,” according to a Department of Education statement.
Under the terms of a voluntary agreement, “the District will ensure that gender nonconforming and transgender students can participate fully in the District’s programs and activities in a safe, educational environment,” it said.
The school district committed itself to 10 specific steps, including the hiring of a consultant with expertise on child and adolescent gender identity, and the removal from the student’s record of all disciplinary measures taken against her during the 2011-2012 school year, according to the commitments listed in the Department of Education statement.
The agreement was reached Tuesday.
—City News Service