Illinois school introduces ‘Gender Support Process and Plan’ to support students

A parental advocacy group has uncovered a controversial “Gender Support Process and Plan” at an Illinois boarding school that advises staff to keep a student’s social gender transition a secret from parents or guardians. The Illinois Math and Science Academy in Aurora is implementing this plan, which is said to be modeled after similar plans from Gender Spectrum, Laurie’s Children’s Hospital, and Chicago Public Schools.

According to documents shared by Parents Defending Education, the plan aims to guide the school in supporting students’ needs and assisting their social transition while at school. It includes provisions such as access to restrooms, locker room accessibility, affirmation of chosen name and pronouns, and confidentiality of gender identity as requested by the student.

One of the most controversial aspects of the plan is the instruction for staff not to disclose a student’s self-described gender identity to their parents or guardians without the student’s permission or authorization from the law department. The school has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.

The plan was piloted during the 2022-2023 academic year, but it remains unclear if it has been officially approved by the school’s trustees. The school cited concerns about compliance with new Title IX regulations that include gender and gender expression.

This news has sparked a nationwide debate on how schools handle topics like gender identity and sexual orientation. Parents Defending Education previously reported that over 1,000 school districts across the country have policies allowing faculty to withhold information from parents if their child identifies as the opposite sex at school. The controversy surrounding the Illinois Math and Science Academy’s plan is likely to continue as discussions on parental rights and student privacy intensify.