The Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) Handbook, Executive Board Policy 40, Gender Identity Participation, developed in consultation with the Oregon Department of Education is in direct conflict with Title IX.

OSAA Executive Board may have consulted with ODE, but there is no public input at their meetings.

These rights conflict with Title IX, a congressional act passed in 1972 to defend women’s rights in educational institutions.

Now the Salem-Keizer Public Schools adopted a series of administrative policies based on Policy 40 that may be coming to other school districts.

It focuses on transgender student rights. The policy addresses: 1) using the bathroom/locker room of choosing; 2) playing on gendered sports teams of their choosing; 3) All school libraries to have trans-affirming literature; 4) Schools will provide students with and assist them in providing detailed transition plans, and the unsupportive parents will not be allowed to know; 5) The plan also describes how to respond to staff that don’t use the right pronouns or support of the student’s transition plan.

Salem-Keizer adopted the following administrative rules:

FAC-P022 Accessible Facilities for Students and Staff of all Genders Scope: Students, staff, and district visitors shall be provided access to gender-specific facilities at school consistent with their gender identity. Access to private facilities based on privacy, safety, or other concerns will also be made available to the extent possible.

INS-A040 Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender Nonconforming Student To change the outcome for our trans students, the District must apply an equity lens to all relevant policies, programs, and practices so that all trans students in our district are receiving the same degree of comprehensive care and education of other Salem-Keizer students.

INS-P038 Protecting Transgender Student Privacy Scope: This procedure outlines the steps that district staff should take in order to protect the privacy of a student when they wish to affirm their identity at school as two-spirit, transgender, nonbinary, or another gender nonconforming identity.

INS-P039 LGBTQ+ Affirming Education Scope: This procedure outlines how district staff and teachers, program associates, and administrators will create an inclusive and encouraging environment for students of all genders and sexualities.

">INS-P040 Accessible Athletics for Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender Nonconforming Students Scope: This procedure outlines how athletics will be accessible to all students, including transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming students.

The school board is failing to recognize the biological physical difference between male and female allowing physically developed males to compete in female competitive sports.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

According to the new rules, every student who participates in OSAA (Oregon School Activities Association) team athletics will be considered for eligibility on the team that most aligns with their gender identity, regardless of whether the student has undergone any medical gender-affirming treatment.

If a school wants to be competitive, over time female students will be pushed out by a team of more muscular transgender athletes. Where is the equity they so highly value?

The Salem-Keizer School Board references the OSAA Handbook, Executive Board Policy 40. Larry Ramirez, Director of Salem-Keizer High School Education, serves on the OSAA Board. The Salem-Keizer School Board adopted these policies on February 15, 2022, but there appears to be no agenda item or public comment recorded to verify that parents knew these policies were being considered. Salem-Keizer School Board has not responded.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2022-04-16 12:34:40

Last Update: 2022-04-16 13:11:08