During their regular board meeting Aug. 22, Keller ISD board members unanimously passed more than a dozen policy changes.

The details

One of the more controversial changes has to do with the gender identification of students, or what is referred to as the “pronoun policy.” According to district documents, these changes include:
  • Students will be required to get their parent's permission to go by a name or gender other than what is listed on their birth certificate
  • District officials must notify parents within 24 hours if their child asks to be referred to by pronouns other than those assigned at birth
  • District officials must also notify parents within 24 hours if their child asks to use a bathroom, locker room or other changing facility that differs from the biological sex listed on the student’s birth certificate
A closer look

The ACLU of Texas sent a letter dated Aug. 22 to the Keller ISD board outlining the possible harm brought to LGBTQ+ students should they pass these policies.

“Because portions of these revisions amount to discriminatory restrictions on LGBTQ+ youth and risk the creation of a hostile educational environment, we urge you to reject them,” the letter states. “Enacting such policies would violate the U.S. and Texas Constitutions and harm and stigmatize the district’s students, staff and families, in violation of federal anti-discrimination law.”


What they’re saying

Several Keller ISD students spoke about the policy changes during the public comment portion of the meeting, which typically occurs before the school board votes on any action items.

"Queer kids can't even have a safe, comfortable environment without their parents knowing," said Brendan Geary, a sophomore at Timber Creek High School. "You are keeping kids with hateful parents from joining a safe space that should be their home but, sadly, isn't."

“You’ve decided to impose policies that prioritize outing LGBTQ students who may not yet feel safe at home,” said Madison Hickman, a senior at Keller Collegiate Academy. “You’ve created an environment where fear and isolation might just become the norm for some of our most vulnerable students. Hate is not a Keller ISD value.”