The overall basis of FCPS’s policy that excludes a requirement for parental notification is the assertion that parents may not support a child’s decision. The definition of non-supportive is so vague and broad that it gives FCPS total control over whether a parent has the right to know about their child’s choices. The policy essentially says that any parent who does not accept their child’s choice without question is considered “non-supportive.”

Here are the wild assumptions FCPS and the members of the BOE make in justifying that policy decision.

1. That every parent or family is potentially willing to violate the law and push their child out of the home or subject them to emotional or physical abuse.
   
   
2. That no other underlying social, behavioral, or psychological conditions or situations associated with a child, the ones that only a parent would be thoroughly aware of, are relevant.
   
   
3. That minor children can always accurately determine if their parents will be “supportive” or not. 

   
   
4. That a minor child always knows what is best for them and makes the right independent decisions, and can make those decisions without their parent’s involvement.
   
   
5. That not a single FCPS staff member will ever unduly influence a minor child when helping a child to determine whether parents will be “supportive.” 

   
   
6. That FCPS staff and minor children will always utilize the same definition of the meaning of “supportive.”

What FCPS is doing is assuming that every child that feels some anxiety about their sex is truly gender dysphoric and in need of affirmation, which is a blatant dismissal of the influence of social media (Tik Tok, YouTube, Facebook, etc.) or peer groups on a child. As a matter of fact, when schools immediately affirm a child’s choice, it reinforces the influence of social media on a child. This influence is proven to have extremely harmful effects on children. If a parent has been working with their child to mitigate the impacts of social media, the school system is now telling the child that their parents are wrong. How exactly is that in the best interests of the child?

Don’t let the school system undermine your rights as a parent by assuming the lead role in these decisions (or any other). Support parental notification.