South Dakota bill requires schools to notify parents if students discuss gender identity

Public school counselors, teachers, administrators and staff would be required to alert parents if a student discussesgender identitywith them under legislation endorsed by a legislative committee Monday at the South Dakota Capitol in Pierre.

Rep. Logan Manhart, R-Aberdeen, introducedHouse Bill 1201, which would require parental notification of discussions of a studentsgender confusion or gender dysphoria.

Sen. Amber Hulse, R-Hot Springs, also spoke in support of the bill, saying school staff shouldnt be pushing these ideas onto students.

If you as a parent want to teach that to your child, thats all for you, Hulse said.

Several school counselors opposed the bill, saying it was unnecessary since discussing genderidentityor diagnosing gender dysphoria is outside of school counselors scope of practice and code of ethics. They also told lawmakers that they encourage students who are interested in discussing genderidentityto talk to their parents.

House Bill 1201 comes out of fear and misinformation that school counselors and school staff are indoctrinating students into gender sexuality choices that are contrary to family beliefs, said Kim Goebel, a school counselor for the Gettysburg School District.

Lawmakers who voted against the bill raised concerns about requiring mandatory parental notification without exceptions for abusive situations, and said they wanted to hear from more education professionals and school districts.

The only public education lobbyist to testify on the bill was Rob Monson, executive director for School Administrators of South Dakota. He opposed it, saying the bills use of discussed is too vague and that the bill lacks an enforcement mechanism.

The House Education Committee passed the bill 8-7. Itll head to the House floor next.

Another bill addressing the intersection of genderidentityand education failed to pass the committee Monday. The committee voted 9-5 against abillthat would prohibit schools from disciplining students, teachers and staff who refuse to use a students preferred name, title and pronouns.