Frederick County Public Schools’ Policy Committee voted unanimously Oct. 22 to send a revised version of Policy 4-4-3, covering use of preferred names and related student privacy protections, to the full school board for first reading.

The proposal updates definitions, clarifies confidentiality rules for student records and staff communications, and adds procedural language about when staff should notify parents, while preserving a statement that students and staff will not be disciplined for declining to honor a preferred name or pronoun.

Committee members said the draft tries to balance student privacy, staff obligations as mandatory reporters and parental involvement. Committee discussion ranged across definitions (including whether to reference medical sources such as the DSM-5), whether staff should be required to notify parents when a student identifies as transgender or gender diverse, access to single‑sex facilities, athletics participation and training for staff.

Public commenters urged stronger protections for transgender and gender‑diverse students. Dana Mooney, who identified herself as a parent of an FCPS student, told the committee the draft’s language that “Students and staff will not be disciplined for declining to honor the request to use a preferred name or pronoun” is “harmful,” arguing it could permit repeated misgendering without consequences. Peter Brehm, a Frederick resident and a board member of the Frederick Center, urged use of “getting to know you” forms so teachers have students’ preferred names and pronouns and recommended removing language that he said risked unintentionally outing students to parents.

Committee members made multiple edits in the meeting. The committee adopted a change to use the phrase “transgender and gender diverse” in place of “gender nonconforming” throughout the draft. Members discussed whether to include a definition of “gender dysphoria” drawn from clinical sources; the chair said an abbreviated definition drawn from the DSM‑5 would be added and considered again at first reading. The committee also agreed to add a confidentiality paragraph stating: “FCPS staff shall not disclose that a student is transgender, gender diverse, or diagnosed with gender dysphoria to anyone other than……” and to retain enumerated exceptions while deleting a fourth, more open-ended subparagraph the committee removed.

On parental notification, members debated two approaches: (1) narrower language that requires contacting parents when there is a health, mental‑health or safety concern and otherwise encouraging communication between student and parent, and (2) broader language proposed by one member to require earlier parental notification. The committee ultimately merged language to make clear staff should “make every effort to encourage and support communication between students and the students’ parents” and to authorize school officials (principals or designees) and mental‑health staff to determine genuine safety concerns that would necessitate parent contact. Members repeatedly emphasized that mandatory‑reporting obligations remain in force and that teachers should not be put in the position of predicting future abuse without escalation to school leaders.

On facilities and athletics, the draft states that students have access to facilities (restrooms, locker rooms, changing areas) consistent with federal and state law and that any student who is uncomfortable sharing a facility should be provided a non‑stigmatizing alternative. The committee debated adding an express “sincerely held core identity” phrase to reduce concerns about misuse of the policy; some members opposed the facilities language on safety and privacy grounds, while others argued the policy should prioritize dignity and privacy for all students and include a process for addressing competitive fairness and safety in athletics on a case‑by‑case basis.

The committee also discussed training and professional development language, including adding a reference to the district’s bullying and harassment policy (Policy 4‑37) in training materials and an added provision the committee agreed to insert that would require parental notification for students under age 12 requesting a change in pronoun, name usage or access to gender‑specific facilities, done “in a timely and supportive manner” consistent with Maryland minor‑consent law.

After discussion and wording adjustments, a committee member moved that Policy 4‑4‑3 be forwarded to the full board for first reading; another member seconded and the committee approved the motion unanimously.

The draft will appear on the board agenda for first reading at the next full board meeting, where members said further public comment and legal review are expected.