[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6290792,"mediaKeyId","2530420-fc1b078d1d7c16246dd9db3032cf3f38","parentId",2530420,"title","FCPS racial equity committee begins review of policies on transgender students and educational equity","audioSeconds",1185,"startMs",1191000,"endMs",5553,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2530420-fc1b078d1d7c16246dd9db3032cf3f38&start=1191&end=5","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2530420-fc1b078d1d7c16246dd9db3032cf3f38/thumbnail_1191000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6290792/Maryland/FCPS-racial-equity-committee-begins-review-of-policies-on-transgender-students-and-educational-equity","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6290792-35a3b9b982399ecda76bdb35d7fe6f5a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192500&Signature=mHjsVVsyl2le4nfIdoVOsxE2qrRMnQMWL4~Afz66rIdBuh5cz8ivgKo3ti4elFEwmd21L4mDeqcd5S6~CImY5oKhPMZAswfUGgAjpv1hwGSYC8AOsLRcKLOE0yF7NXXWQdo2Y5KPSJO-Qd5Aq0s~qbFbu-7z6iTEodckw0noN7HhThubx-8Sl3GYVD4SJjAiZCL~31lJ6JtDIm4eHVW4K~I8l~MEcdV2uYqiZk617MsdU73K~MFi6evOoXI5GhqEFvRTgrFw1E1OmK6a8gR5rkhB3vhvWN3s4lAz09yd0Kt3qT1CZTO6uHjgGnv2X0MrmlFL7mhHlHHtnw7EDv-twA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Frederick County Public Schools","date","2025-03-06T17:56:58Z","article","The Frederick County Public Schools Racial Equity Committee met to review draft language for two board policies the full Board of Education will begin considering in May: Policy 4-43, on creating “welcoming and affirming” rules for transgender and gender-nonconforming students, and Policy 4-44, on educational equity and excellence.

The committee’s discussion focused on two tasks: offering annotated, structured feedback on the draft policies and ensuring the board’s legal obligations and community understanding are balanced. Committee Co-chair opened the item and asked members to read the drafts and use a “ladder of feedback” worksheet to record clarifying questions, concerns and values.

“The discussions on both of those policies are going to begin in the policy committee in May,” Ms. Gallagher, Board President, said. “And I say begin. I think they're going to be extensive discussions, based on feedback working from the community.”

Senior staff emphasized that the policy text and the regulation that implements it serve different roles. Dr. Harris, senior staff, told the committee that the board establishes policy while the superintendent and staff develop regulations specifying how policy will be carried out. “The regulation … will provide more depth and detail than maybe has been in regulation prior to this, about how our schools actually go about evaluating, selecting, and approving [materials],” she said, referring to library selection rules as an example of policy/regulation division.

Committee members and staff pressed for clearer definitions and a plain-language summary. One staff member with legal experience said legal terms such as “protected class” and references to state or federal standards are necessary for enforceability and to withstand legal challenge, but acknowledged that such language can be opaque to community readers. Multiple members urged an accompanying translation or addendum so parents, students and volunteers can understand policy intent and practical effects.

Committee members also raised specific substantive concerns. They asked that Policy 4-44’s language on eliminating “predictability and disproportionality” be simplified and that the board ensure promised economic, academic and social supports are actually available in larger or higher-need schools. Attendees repeatedly noted that national legal developments, executive orders and court litigation could change what local districts are permitted or required to do, and that policy drafting must account for that uncertainty.

The committee used small-group breakout work on both drafts, marking the policy text with clarifying questions, concerns and suggestions. Staff said they will collect the annotated worksheets and synthesize the feedback into categories for the Board policy committee to review.

The committee did not take a formal vote on policy text. Rather, members agreed to provide annotated feedback and to forward staff-synthesized notes to the board’s policy committee ahead of May deliberations.

Looking ahead, staff and committee members said the policy committee’s first May meeting will likely be an initial listening session and that full revision work could stretch into the summer. The committee will also push for plain-language explanations of legal terms and clearer cross-policy definitions so similar terms are defined consistently across board policies.

\"We are continuing forward with our review process and our commitment to equity and supporting all students,\" Dr. Harris said. The committee collected the annotated worksheets at the meeting for staff compilation and follow-up.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Racial Equity Committee Meeting - March 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Frederick County Public Schools Racial Equity Committee met to review draft language for Policy 4-43 (transgender and gender-nonconforming students) and Policy 4-44 (educational equity and excellence) and to collect structured feedback for the board’s policy committee.","taxTitle","Frederick County Public Schools, School Boards, Maryland","taxId",14207,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6290787,"FCPS racial equity committee plans April 8 community forum with student breakouts and resource fair",11,1123000,1134000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2530420-fc1b078d1d7c16246dd9db3032cf3f38&start=1123&end=1134","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2530420-fc1b078d1d7c16246dd9db3032cf3f38/thumbnail_1123000.jpg","/articles/6290787/Maryland/FCPS-racial-equity-committee-plans-April-8-community-forum-with-student-breakouts-and-resource-fair","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6290787-8999f08e43f1bc48561473fad1af2ebe/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192500&Signature=h0Q8OQecGva2jlWAwCPbIsSPu4gB5SNBIWt-zoY8surrdehSSMlbTwVXUakebw--bhdDBMl5Rb2Qh0T9I3Rue1x~I6ulrtHuIcUJVwv5XHu2KoZvTQwPmdv6zPfSahu-WAzLFtUW-yIXI5NSAYgD8bUoyt~oyiafp6hVao5YX4RkOwFEYXeYCz3elNlAR9FeA7Y3sOqF5tetvOuqlkfF2Nj1rwKsam9iA0a-RryYxLq6OwayVnxiOLueIeZU-i~31JVIzF6yoN-WVj-82XioEcphavphKJnlqEtOToe-PaFLCbXDX~wNRYmoYOy--9R8UabYayImz2f2kPNyHsREoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Frederick County Public Schools Racial Equity Committee announced details for a community forum and resource fair planned for April 8, 6–8 p.m., and asked committee volunteers to arrive early to assist with setup and welcoming.

Committee Co-chair summarized the event format: an initial public comment period, breakout sessions for students and parents, and a concurrent community resource fair intended to connect families with organizations that support the district’s racial-equity goals.

\"The thing that looks differently this year is that we're adding a community resource, portion to the fair this year as well,\" the co-chair said, describing the change in format. \"So we are inviting a number of community organizations … to really help educate the community about the resources they have to support them.\"

Staff asked that volunteers be on site by about 5 to 5:30 p.m. to help set up the large space and greet attendees. The committee expects students to have opportunities to speak during breakout sessions and emphasized that the forum is intended for listening and information-sharing rather than extended debate.

The committee said a flyer with basic event information is available and that members who want to assist further should sign up with staff after the meeting. Committee members discussed logistics including space layout and volunteer check-in; one staff member said a laptop with the volunteer list would be available at the meeting for sign-ups.

No formal actions or policy decisions were made at the meeting regarding the forum; staff will continue outreach and finalize the event agenda prior to April 8.","The committee confirmed an April 8 community forum from 6 to 8 p.m. with breakout sessions for students and parents and a new community resource fair; volunteers are asked to arrive by 5–5:30 p.m. for setup and greeting.","actionData","errors"]

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FCPS racial equity committee begins review of policies on transgender students and educational equity

FCPS racial equity committee plans April 8 community forum with student breakouts and resource fair