Pathways to LGBTQ+ Policy Reforms: Examining District Adoption of Statewide Legislative and Executive Reforms

• In Event: The Politics of Gender and Sexuality in Education Policy Making

Abstract

LGBTQ+ students report greater rates of in-school discrimination and assault compared to peers, prompting top-down mandates, such as state legislation and executive actions, to initiate greater policy protections, curricular representation, and organizational reforms. Using a representative sample of 112 districts in Illinois, we conducted a content analysis district documents in 2017 and again in 2020. We also examined pathways for LGBTQ+ educational reforms initiated by legislation versus executive order, and adoption timelines. References to LGBTQ+ students increased between 2017 to 2020 in curricular documents (61% increase; legislation-mandated), which spikes six-month before the legislative deadline, compared to administrative guidance concerning transgender students (8%; executive recommendation). Describing recent pathways for LBGTQ+ policy reforms informs possible strategies for policymakers and educational leaders.

Authors

• Mollie McQuillan, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Katie Mathisen, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Callie Geissler, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Erin Gill, University of Wisconsin-Madison