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Edmonton Public Schools was the first to pass a stand-alone policy on gender identity and expression in 2011, along with accompanying regulations that detail everything from what washroom a transgender student will use, to what pronoun they will be addressed by.

In the debate over the creation for a policy for the Catholic school district, the Council of Catholic School Superintendents of Alberta created guidelines for the treatment of transgender students. A department spokesman said that document would not meet the requirements of the department’s current request.

The department will review each board policy to determine if it is acceptable. The policies are due by March 31, 2016.

The minister’s letter was not sent to private, religious schools. Eggen said those schools are still subject to the School Act.

“They have to have some demonstrable mechanism by which they’re adhering to the law, for sure. I’m in conversation with them. They have to follow the law and I will ensure the same message gets out to all schools that receive funding in the province of Alberta.”

It’s estimated that fewer than 10 school boards in the province have stand-alone policies on gender identity and expression, while several boards have such policies in the works.

Helen Clease, president of the Alberta School Boards Association, said her organization has always operated on the basis that all students deserve a safe, welcoming, caring, and respectful environment.

“I think it’s an effort to highlight a group that has relayed their needs and concerns. and we’re willing to work” with the minister,” she said.

The organization has already sent several bulletins to school boards, looking for advice on developing safe schools policies for students, she said.

“We do believe that local input is important and flexibility in what works in a community,” she said.

The Council of Catholic School Superintendents of Alberta could not be reached for comment.

azabjek@edmontonjournal.com

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