Scottsdale Unified School District issued the following announcement on Dec. 9.
Students’ rights to have differences of opinions, beliefs and interests are protected in the U.S. Constitution and in Arizona statute. Consistent with those rights, SUSD does not regulate the viewpoints of student-initiated clubs. We have athletic clubs, political clubs, and faith-based clubs in our schools, in addition to academic and philanthropic clubs. These clubs welcome anyone; participation in any club is voluntary. Recently, there have been targeted attacks on student-created school clubs related to gender and sexual identity, sometimes called GSA clubs.
The students who choose to participate in them have a legal right not to be bullied, intimidated, or otherwise targeted by adult members of our community, as well as by any of their peers. Pursuant to Governing Board Policy AC, Scottsdale Unified School District does not and will not “discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation and transgender identity), disability, age, height, weight, marital or family status, religion, military status, ancestry, genetic information, or any other legally protected category (collectively, "Protected Classes"), in its programs and activities, including employment opportunities.” A key value of the Scottsdale Unified School District is Inclusion: We create an equitable environment where everyone is respected, is treated with dignity, and has a sense of belonging. One important way to nurture a sense of belonging is the establishment of studentinitiated clubs. Club participation is voluntary, and we support the many, varied interests of our students. Not everyone is going to join a GSA club, a robotics club, or a religious club. What all clubs have in common is that they are based on student interest, they have a charter, they have a certified staff sponsor and they meet during non-instructional time. We are proud to support our diverse student population. We also support our teachers who choose to sponsor and support student clubs, as well as our administrators who make training opportunities available to staff so that they may better support students.
The Arizona Parents’ Bill of Rights establishes the right of parents to make an informed school choice, based on what they believe is best for their student(s), and we are honored that you have chosen SUSD.
Original source can be found here.
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