Rights & Protections

Washington State has some of the strongest protections in the country for transgender and gender-expansive students. Washington public schools are required to follow the Gender-Inclusive Schools Policy. This means they must prevent and respond to discriminatory harassment based on gender identity or expression.

This guide is not a replacement for legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact a lawyer or schedule a legal consultation through QLaw Foundation’s 2SLGBTQIA+ Legal Clinic.

Names & Pronouns in Public Schools

In Washington State, public schools must respect and use your chosen name and pronouns, regardless of whether you’ve legally changed your name or gender marker in most cases. Under Washington state law, students have the right to be addressed by their self-identified name and pronouns, even without a legal name or gender designation change.

Public schools must use this information in day-to-day settings such as:

• Class instruction,
• Seating charts,
• Roll call,
• Tests and assignments
• School publications, like yearbooks or playbills,
• Student ID cards and similar non-official documents

Official Records

Some official records may still require the use of a student’s legal name. This includes:

• Transcripts State assessments and testing records,
• Enrollment or state reporting documents.

Disclosure to Parents

Under the new Parents’ Bill of Rights, your school can disclose—and may be required to disclose—your transgender status to your parents. The law grants parents extensive rights to review:

• Mental health counseling records
• Medical or health records
• Student-specific files, documents, or emails

If your transgender status is mentioned in any of these, your parent can legally request and receive that information. This bill strictly applies to internal school records. For example:

• If you talk to a school counselor or nurse about being transgender, those notes may be accessible to your parent.
• If a staff member emails about using your preferred name or pronouns, that communication could count as part of your educational record and be disclosed.

Parental Notification Requirements

The law also requires schools to notify parents about:

• Any medical services (unless it’s an emergency)
• Any services that impact insurance or require follow-up care

If your school offers gender-affirming services (such as counseling, support groups, or referrals), the school may have to inform your parents depending on how those services are classified.

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