RICHMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT
Board of Education Approves Policy 106: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI)

The Board of Education approved Policy 106: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) at the June 27 public meeting.

The Board of Education believes that every student and adult has the right to feel safe and is therefore moving forward with the implementation of a SOGI policy at the Richmond School District. The implementation of this policy will help to ensure that there are teaching and learning resources for parents, students and staff that encourage understanding and foster an inclusive climate where LGBTQ+ students feel that they truly belong, and can focus on their learning.

The Board of Education would like to thank all those that contributed to the development of the policy including the SOGI Policy Working Group, the Richmond School District Policy Committee, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the Richmond Association of School Administrators (RASA), the Richmond District Parents Association (RDPA) , the Richmond Teachers Association (RTA), the Richmond Management And Professional Staff (RMAPS), staff, students, parents and community members.

The Ministry of Education expects that all school districts follow the expectations set out by both the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the BC Human Rights Code.

As of Dec 31, 2016, all BC School Districts and independent schools are required to include specific references to sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) in their district codes of conduct.