Quality Public Education for All New Jersey Students

 

12-27-16 Education in the News

The Record--Transgender teens quietly gain rights

North Jersey schools have put policies in place, but they differ greatly from district to district

Almost 50 North Jersey high school districts quietly passed policies during the past few years spelling out the rights of transgender students, from what bathrooms they can use to the pronouns and names used to describe the student to the definitions of terms such as "gender expression."

The process has continued unabated and often without a great deal of public attention, even as a national debate over the issue raged in recent months and the federal government issued mandates.

Through a months-long examination of public records, The Record found that 47 of 62 North Jersey high school districts had transgender policies in place —  and that transgender policies were already commonplace prior to a May letter issued by federal justice and education officials laying out requirements for schools to accommodate transgender students.

But in the absence of state guidelines, there are vast differences among the region’s policies – particularly when it comes to one of the issue’s most sensitive questions: Should districts inform parents when their children come out as transgender at school?

http://www.northjersey.com/longform/news/education/2016/11/18/transgender-teens-quietly-gain-rights/93897824/

Abbott Koloff and Andrew Wyrich , NorthJersey

 

Education Week--8 Reasons Why School Secretaries Deserve More Credit

In many small school communities, and even in a few larger ones, school secretaries take on roles and have influence that can be impactful to students, parents and teachers, and I think it's important to recognize that. 

No, today is not Administrative Assistant's Day. You didn't forget to buy a card or flowers at the grocery store on your way into school. It's a random Tuesday in September still at the beginning of the school year for many of you. I didn't want to wait until a special day on one day during the year to write about secretaries.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/finding_common_ground/2016/12/8_reasons_why_school_secretaries_deserve_more_credit.html?intc=main-mpsmvs

By Peter DeWitt on December 18, 2016 7:30 AM