American School Counselor Association*
“Each person has the right to be respected, be treated with dignity and have access to a comprehensive school counseling program that advocates for and affirms all students from diverse populations regardless of ethnic/racial status, age, economic status, special needs, English as a second language or other language group, immigration status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, family type, religious/spiritual identity and appearance.”
American Federation of Teachers*
“AFT has a proud history and a long-standing record in the fight for the elimination of discrimination and stereotyping based on race, gender, immigration status, physical disabilities, ethnicity and sexual orientation.”
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development*
“Schools must use education to bridge the divides caused by the deepest differences between groups of people. This requires serious attention to teaching about differences such as language, culture and religion, as well as exploring areas of shared understanding. Schools must develop and foster civil cultures, democratic communities and practices that respect diversity in all its forms.”
National Association of Elementary School Principals*
“Principals must provide leadership within the school community in developing programs aimed at creating constructive and cooperative relationships, teaching tolerance and appreciating similarities and differences among all people…”
“NAESP recognizes that changing societal attitudes have produced a variety of family patterns… NAESP
urges administrators to maintain a school climate supportive of all children and families, regardless of family patterns”
National Association of School Nurses*
“All students, regardless of sexual orientation, gender expression and gender identity are entitled to equal opportunities in the educational system. … The school nurse should be actively involved in fostering a safe environment, demonstrating an understanding of the issues and modeling respect for diversity.”
National Association of School Psychologists*
“Schools can only be truly safe when every student, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity, is assured of access to an education without fear of harassment, discrimination or violence.”
National Council of Teachers of English*
“It is the responsibility of all teachers to prepare students for citizenship in a diverse society … RESOLVED, that the NCTE … urge NCTE members to address the needs of LGBT students, as well as children of LGBT families, and to incorporate LGBT issues in their work.”
National Education Association*
“A safe and effective school has a positive environment in which education employees, students, parents/guardians and the community care for, communicate with, respect, understand and trust each other.” And “…plans, activities and programs for education employees, students, parents/guardians and the community should be developed to … increase respect, understanding, acceptance and sensitivity toward individuals and groups in a diverse society composed of such groups as American Indians/Alaska Natives, Asians and Pacific Islanders, Blacks, Hispanics, women, GLBT persons and people with disabilities.”
National Parent Teacher Association*
“Continued respect for, and expansion of civil rights requires they be defended whenever threatened and that children and youth be taught the significance of civil rights and responsibilities in American culture. … National PTA supports: Prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, gender, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, national origin, language, religion, age, physical and academic ability and sexual orientation.”
National School Board Association*
“NSBA believes that school boards should ensure that students and school staff are not subjected to discrimination on the basis of socioeconomic status, race, color, national origin, religion, gender, disability or sexual orientation. … The total school environment, including its curriculum, should reflect and encourage respect for the multicultural nature of the world.”
School Social Work Association of America*
“Students should be able to attend school without fear of threat, harassment or denial of rights. To achieve this positive school climate, SSWAA supports educating both students and staff regarding misconceptions about GLBQ youth, appropriate ways to address discrimination and harassment and the importance of mutual respect.”
*Citations are included in PDF, available at top of this page.
