Equity, Advocacy, and Civil Rights Policy in Detroit Public Schools
Executive Summary
During the Winter semester, students partnering with Detroit Public Schools Community District devised a list of best practices from nationwide districts on fostering gender inclusivity in schools. The recommendations include policy guidelines, student support, and resources for policy implementation. The policy draft includes student and staff rights, provides definitions for important, relevant terms, applies to staff members, and has a legal basis. It also recommends respecting name and pronoun changes, defines discrimination, harassment, and bullying, and outlines locker room and restroom access approaches, as well as athletics and extracurricular participation. The deliverable notes the inclusion of a malicious intent clause to protect against misuse of the policy. The report recommends providing support for students, including gender-affirming mental health resources and gender-inclusive health and biology lessons. These best practices aim to create safe and affirming environments for LGBTQ+ students in schools.