Next school year, Oregon students will no longer be required to identify as male or female. Starting in August, students will be able to select a non-binary gender option, "X."

The Oregon Department of Education's change follows a state movement to be more inclusive following a historic ruling by a Multnomah County Circuit Court judge in 2016 that allowed an army veteran to identify as non-binary. After that,Oregon became the first state to allow non-binary drivers licenses, identification cards and birth certificates.

Now, Oregon schools will officially be more inclusive of students' gender preferences.

Taking a student-centered approach to gender identity is not new for the Oregon Department of Education, however. In 2016, it issued guidance to schools on how to create a safe and supportive school environment for transgender students. In it, the department advise, "The person best situated to determine a student's gender identity is the individual student."

— Bethany Barnes

Email Bethany: bbarnes@oregonian.com