UPDATE: Fort Worth ISD Releases New Student Safety Guidelines

The Fort Worth ISD announced new administrative guidelines for student welfare and safety, particularly concerning transgender students.

This action follows hours of thoughtful contributions from parents, educators, students and community leaders, all committed to the safety of our students. 

“The new guidelines reflect what we’ve heard from students and teachers, parents and pastors,” said Superintendent Kent P. Scribner. “Our focus from the beginning has been the safety of all children and that, overwhelmingly, was the concern we heard from our parents and others.”

The new guidelines are more clear, more concise and place trust in those most involved to find the right answers for each child.  This replaces a lengthier, complicated document unveiled three months ago. 

“The new guidelines ensure that parents, guardians and others share in the charge to protect our kids,” added Dr. Scribner.

The guidelines support Board Policy FFH (LOCAL), adopted in 2011, which seeks to ensure the health and safety of all students, prevents discrimination and bullying, and supports a safe and supportive learning environment.

• School personnel will consider the needs of transgender students and their families on a case-by-case basis.
• Campus educators will engage parents and work collaboratively with them.
• All parties will develop an individualized support plan for the student.

“The new guidelines place a heavy emphasis on involving parents and trusts students, teachers and parents to work together to make the right decisions,” Dr. Scribner said.  “We have great confidence in our school leadership at the campus level and will place our trust in parents, principals, counselors and teachers to take care of our most vulnerable children.”

The District professes its profound gratitude to the dedicated individuals and community groups who have contributed to the rewriting of the guidelines.

Parents and pastors have given unselfishly of their time to work through each word of our guidelines to ensure they are helpful – to our teachers, to our families, and, most importantly, to our students. Students, teachers, parents and pastors have provided us with their thoughtful insights and their wisdom helping us realize that this issue was really about the safety of ALL students.

Additionally, we learned that parent involvement is absolutely essential. These new guidelines ensure that parents are engaged as quickly as possible to assist in the development of individualized student support plans.

In response to parent and community concerns regarding the initial announcement of the guidelines in April, the District convened a series of listening opportunities. In all we have had

• Four hours of public comment at four successive Board meetings
• Six town hall forums where District leaders listened for 1 ½ to 2 hours each
• Conducted a special meeting of the Student Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) which provided the superintendent with insight from the student point of view.
• Received comment from a total of 235 individuals
• Collected a total of 119 separate email comments
• Invited 45 community and religious leaders, parents, teachers and citizens to participate in further discussions as the Student Safety Advisory Council
• Held five 2-hour meetings of the Student Safety Advisory Council attended by –

1. 16 community members and three staff members on Monday, June 27
2. Six community members and three staff members on Tuesday, June 28
3. Five community members and three staff members on Wednesday, June 29
4. Nine community members and three staff members on Thursday, June 30
5. 13 community members and three staff members on Wednesday, July 6

>>>Read The Guidelines