Alberta school boards given March deadline for LGBTQ policies

Alberta Education Minister David Eggen has directedall Alberta school boards tohave apolicysupportingLGBTQ students in place by March 31, 2016.

In a letter sent to the board chairs of all public, separate, francophone and Catholic schools, Eggen said he wants evidence of policiesto provide a supportive, caring, respectful and safe learning environment for each student, as required under Alberta law.

• Transgender students have 'mental disorder,' Edmonton Catholic school trustee says
• Education minister tells Catholic board to pass transgender policy

Eggen said he also wants policies and procedures helping students set up gay-straight alliances and queer-straight alliances, if studentsask for one.

"It is meant to ensure that every board has a policy and regulation or procedure in place should a student request that an alliance be established in his or her school," he wrote in the directive issued Thursday.

He said that staff from his ministry willcontact each board to lay out what he expects to see in their regulations and policies.

Eggen spoke out in September after trustees on the Edmonton Catholic school board fought openly over a draft policy on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The day after the meeting, Eggen saidhe wanted trustees to behave professionally and thathe expected them topass a policy that complies with Alberta law.

The Edmonton Catholic trustees passed first reading of adraft policy last month. The board is now collecting public input before sending it back for second reading.