Research the legal landscape and determine what legal protections are available to LGBTQ students in your state. Then write a position paper that outlines:
Understand that lesbian, gay, transgender, and bisexual (LGBT) families are becoming more common, and some of your students may identify as LGBT.
- The legal position in your state, as well as applicable federal requirements
- Whether or not you agree
- If you do agree with the current legal status of LGBTQ students in your state, how will you defend it? What challenges (legal or otherwise) might you foresee?
- If you do not agree with the current legal status of LGBTQ students in your state, how will you comply with the laws in a way that respects the laws and creates a supportive learning environment without compromising your conscience?
- The candidate accurately describes the legal requirements of his/her state and the federal legal requirements pertaining to LGBT students and families. The candidate names at least one emerging legal challenge related to serving LGBT students in public schools, including a citation of a current news article describing the case or debate.
- The candidate’s personal approach demonstrates respect for all students and complies with current laws. The candidate models compassion for the challenges facing LGBT students and families. By providing specific examples, the candidate demonstrates exemplary commitment to creating a safe, inclusive learning environment for all children.
- The work is written at a graduate level or post-graduate level. The writing is well organized and clear.