Gender Inclusivity
- Section I: General School Information
- Section II: School Governance
- Section III: Safety Protocol
- Section IV: Academic Policies and Procedures
- Section V: Student Policies and Responsibilities
Section I: General School Information
Section II: School Governance
Section III: Safety Protocol
Section IV: Academic Policies and Procedures
Section V: Student Policies and Responsibilities
Legislative Intent
If an individual is treated or dealt with in a manner that is based in historical gender stereotypes differently because of their gender and/or required to conform to a specific standard historically associated with their gender, that is gender discrimination regardless of intent, and that is not permissible. These guidelines aim to prevent gender discrimination and make (non-cisgender) students more comfortable.
All-Gender Facilities and Programs
The school requires that individuals be permitted to use single-sex facilities, such as bathrooms or locker rooms, and participate in single-sex programs (such as a co-curricular activity or club), consistent with their gender, regardless of their sex assigned at birth, anatomy, medical history, appearance, or the sex indicated on their identification. This does not require the school to make existing bathrooms all-gender or construct additional restrooms. Single-occupancy restrooms will make clear that they can be used by people of all genders. Some people may object to sharing a facility or participating in a program with a non-cisgender, transgender or gender non-conforming person. Such objections will not be a legitimate reason to deny access to that non-cisgender, transgender or gender non-conforming individual. If an individual objects to sharing a bathroom with with a non-cisgender or gender non-conforming person, they may use the single-occupancy bathrooms in the music department or other areas of the school.
For single-sex programs associated with the state’s athletic association, the school should do all in its power to try to allow students (regardless of gender) to participate in the programs.
Names, Pronouns, and Using Gendered Terms
Individuals should avoid addressing a group of people as “ladies and gentlemen,” “boys and girls,” “ladies,” or any other gender binary or gender-based terms, as it does not include non-cisgender and gender non-conforming students and can make them uncomfortable. Similarly, students may not be split into two (or more) groups in a classroom setting based on gender or sex assigned at birth, as it leaves non-cisgender and gender non-conforming students feeling excluded or ostracized.
Individuals should avoid addressing another individual with a gendered word (such as “young lady”) without being certain of the person’s gender.
All members of the Hanover High School community have the responsibility to use and respect an individual’s personal pronouns. These pronouns include, but are not limited to:
He, Him, His
She, Her, Hers
They, Them, Theirs
Ze, Hir, Hirs (Pronounced Zee, Here, Heres)
Ze, Zir, Zirs (Pronounced Zee, Zere, Zeres)
Xe, Xem, Xyr (Pronounced Zee, Zem, Zere)
If a person is not sure as to what another individual’s personal pronouns are, it is suggested that the person asks the individual for clarification.
If an individual is not sure as to whether or not another individual’s pronouns or gender identity are public knowledge or not, they must check with the other individual before sharing the information with anybody.
The pronouns used in the English language have changed in recent years. For example, the pronoun “they” is now accepted by linguists and in the English language as a singular, gender-neutral term. Members of the Hanover High School community have the responsibility to be open to using these pronouns.
At the start of a new semester, teachers are encouraged to ask students to let the teacher/class know of any corrections to the student’s name, as well as to inform the teacher/class of the student’s pronouns. On the first day of a new semester, the school will provide name tags for students that provide a space for the student to list their personal pronouns, if they so choose.
If an individual takes a foreign language and uses non-gendered personal pronouns that might not exist within said foreign language, they should discuss or research a solution with the teacher. The teacher has the responsibility to use a pronoun that the student is comfortable with.
Teachers, students, and other members of Hanover High School are required to use and to respect an individual’s chosen name, even if the name is not their legal name. The intent of this is to prevent non-cisgender and gender non-conforming individuals from being misgendered or called by a name that the individual feels misgenders them. Similarly, if an individual feels that their legal name does not correspond with their gender, the individual may request that their @hanovernorwichschools.org email address be changed to a name that they feel corresponds with their gender. The other email account must be deleted to avoid confusion. This student also has the right to have their official name and gender changed in PowerSchool, Schoology, or other school-based data collection programs. In cases where legal names or legal sex are required, the school must include an option for an individual’s true name and true gender, if possible.
No member of Hanover High School may place the burden on individuals to justify their gender identity or expression and demonstrate why a particular distinction (pronoun or gender label) makes them uncomfortable or does not conform to their gender expression. It is inappropriate for an individual to pursue discussion of this topic without explicit permission from the individual.
Any survey sent to members of the Hanover High School community that was created within or by the school must allow for an “other” gender option, aside from male and female, if requiring an individual to provide their gender. Examples of surveys created within or by the school are surveys created for a class, or a survey created by a student or staff member with the intent of reaching a member of the HHS community.
Any form sent to members of the Hanover High School community from the school must allow for an “other” gender option, aside from male and female, if requiring an individual to provide their gender. If needed, the school can request individuals to report their biological sex in addition to their gender.