Seattle School District, WA GLBTQ Advisory Committee
Type: Policy
Status: In effect
Source File: http://www.seattleschools.org/area/fam/glbtq/index.dxml
Description:
The GLBTQ Advisory Committee is a team of school district staff, students, families, and members of the community. It advises the Superintendent and School Board on issues pertaining to safe and welcoming school environments for all students, staff, and families regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. The advisory committee meets monthly to address school policies, trainings, support groups, school climate, and resources for GLBTQ members of the Seattle School community. The GLBTQ Advisory Committee has been in existence since 1995 and is staffed by the Health Education Office of Seattle Public Schools.
Seattle Public Schools believes that all students, staff, and families deserve safe and supportive learning environments regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. The GLBTQ Advisory Committee serves to advise the Seattle Schools on educational issues relating to school safety, academic achievement, and inclusion for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning students, families, and staff in our community.
Goals
We support programs to achieve the following goals and ally ourselves with others working to increase safety, family involvement, and student achievement
- Increase safety and sense of belonging for GLBTQ people in schools.
- Increase visibility of positive role models, including district staff, for GLBTQ students in order to promote self-esteem, academic achievement, and respect for diversity.
- Reduce high-risk sexual behaviors, substance abuse, suicidal ideation and attempts, and dropout rate for GLBTQ students.
- Increase participation by GLBTQ parents/guardians and families in Seattle Public Schools.
- Improve family and staff support for GLBTQ youth.
- Increase support for GLBTQ staff.
Activities
The GLBTQ Advisory Committee has been responsible for helping to:
- Support the activities of the GSAs (Gay-Straight Alliances) and GLBTQ Support Groups in the high schools
- Create GLBTQ-related bibliographies for:
- Obtain grant funding for age-appropriate GLBTQ books in all the Seattle Public Schools libraries
- Provide a one-time training for Principals and school staff on harassment and bullying
- Support the GLBTQ Families Dinner
- Provide the administration and Board with technical support around GLBTQ issues.