Gender Support & Communication Toolkit
A Collection of Resources: Curated for Educational Use to Benefit LGBTQ+ Youth
Procedural Flowchart coming soon
Gender Communication & Support Planning Materials
Key Considerations
Support Plan for NEW Student
This is a broad tool that can be used to systematically address various aspects of a transgender or gender-expansive student’s experiences at school. It is designed to ensure that the school, student and parents (when appropriate) are all on the same page and have shared expectations about how the specific, gender-based needs of the student will be met and which people know what.Communication/Transition Plan for ONGOING Student
This plan focuses specifically on the process a student will use to undergo a gender transition at school. It seeks to identify the various steps that will be taken as the student explicitly declares a shift in the manner in which they wish others to understand and recognize their gender. It is designed to ensure that the school staff, student and parents (when appropriate) are all on the same page and have shared expectations about how the specific, gender-based needs of the student will be met.How to Make Changes in the School Information System
Social Transitioning Supports
Gender Support Team:
Step-By-Step Process
Step-By-Step Process Directions
Download PDF or follow list below.
1. Initial Contact (if trained ***) uses Gender Support Toolkit to guide conversation and document initial needs of student.
*** Except if Teacher or Staff, then seek out Principal, SFA, School Nurse, or Advocate for assistance.***
Select appropriate Gender Plan form
Next Steps:
2. Inform needed staff: Equity Director, Principal, Student Family Advocate, and School Nurse
3. With permission, share with Building Advocate, Counselor, and Teacher as needed to support teacher and student
4. Team meeting with identified staff- use Gender Support Toolkit to guide and document process with staff
Discuss student specific needs
Class specific support plan
Determine meeting and notification schedule
Identify supports for teacher, students, and families and match resources to meet those needs
Update Gender Plan as needed
5. Initial contact and perhaps Team follows up with student and/or family- adjust plan as needed
6. Implement the plan
7. Continued Staff follow-up
SFA continued check-in with student and/or family,
Advocate continued check-in with Teacher
Team meeting as needed
Plan adjustments needed
Note concerns, questions and solutions
8. Plan evaluation at Conferences with student and/or family
Gender Support Team Roles
CONFIDENTIALITY: Only discuss information provided in the Plan with the persons specified in the document. General, non-identifying information may be shared as needed with other allies, colleagues, and stakeholders.
All team members are expected to be positive role-models and consistently incorporate inclusive language and environments.
- Compile list of strategies used across the district that individual teams can reference
- Provide guidance on the implementation of the plan
- Ensure that the plan meets all legal requirements
- Run the Team Meeting with Principal
- Gender Support Team Leader
- Maintain communication with student and family (as appropriate)
- Share student/family concerns with the Team
- Communicate changes to the plan with the entire Team
- Attend Team Meeting - push the conversation to ensure that unasked questions are answered
- Follow up with teachers and provide PD and/or connect them to needed supports
- Liaise with Principal, Equity Director &/or LGBTQ Liason on behalf of staff
- Be safe adult as “go-to” person for student
- Prioritize running student group/individual conferences about bullying and harassment over the existing group meeting schedule (Triage)
- Share concerns/ideas with Team
- Communicate with other students and/or parents as specified in the plan
- Run the Team Meeting with Equity Director &/or LGBTQ Liaison
- Coordinate family communication with SFA & Nurse
- Schedule a Plan Evaluation meeting at the end of the trimester
- Gender Support Team Member
- Maintain communication with student and family (as appropriate)
- Gather & share medical information and resources with student/family
- Attend Team Meetings and implement assigned plan elements
- Attend Team Meeting
- Implement plan
- Meet with Advocate for support
- Support team in implementing the plan
- Share concerns/ideas with Team
- Be safe adult as “go-to” person for student
A guide to aid in developing how you want to share your story with others.
Gender Support Toolkit Binder Index
Index for Physical Notebook of Resources. Proposed---Located with:
Equity Director
LGBTQ Liaison (if applicable)
School Principal
Student Family Advocate
Building Advocate
Guidance Counselor
Teacher Workroom