Schools should be a space where all students feel safe and successful every day—both in the classroom and throughout the school. The IDSPE was created to help gender-diverse students share anything that might make them feel unsafe or uncomfortable. It also gives students a chance to share and express how they feel about their name and gender expression or identity. This IDSPE Plan is a form designed to be filled out collaboratively by school staff, the student, and the student’s caregiver(s). The school district’s role is to support the development and implementation of IDSPE plans to foster an educational environment that is safe and supportive for ALL students.
Identity Support Plan for Elementary (IDSPE) Explainer
An Identity Support Plan for Elementary (IDSPE) provides the opportunity for school staff to work together with gender-diverse students, and potentially their caregivers, to understand and identify ways in which the student’s identity is respected and supported at school. The IDSPE process fosters an educational environment that is safe and supportive for ALL students, and it serves as an effective tool to help guide school staff through conversations with families, other caregivers, and children. Typically, a school staff member who has built a level of trust or comfort with the student or family may fill out the IDSPE form and facilitate the collaborative IDSPE process. Staff should take initiative and offer the IDSPE to students and their families when concerns or needs around safety and identity have been disclosed. This document explains the IDSPE process, provides guidance about how to use the IDSPE tool created by OC Student Mental Health, and offers strategies and discussion tips that school staff can use when working with caregivers and students.
Health Care Considerations for Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ Indigenous Communities
This publication is designed to support health centers in providing affirming care and
services for Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) people.
Two Spirit describes an Indigenous person who expresses their gender identity, spiritual identity, or social role in a traditional, non-Western way. The term Two Spirit was developed by LGTBQIA+ AI/AN activists in 1990 as way to unify tribal traditions that
historically embraced diversity and fluidity of gender identities and sexual orientations.
Identify Support Plan: Confidential
The purpose of the Identity Support Plan (IDSP) is to develop a plan to support the student’s identity, success, and safety at school. School staff, caregivers, and the student must work together to complete this document. This District is committed to making our schools a safe and supportive place for ALL students, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression:
Identity Support Plan: Interviewer Preparation Document
The purpose of Identity Support Plan (IDSP) is to create a shared understanding about the ways in which a student’s authentic gender will be accounted for and supported at school. School staff, caregivers, and the student may work together to complete this document.
- We understand that the student is the expert in their own risk and safety, and therefore, pursuant to state law, education code, and best practices, the interviewer shall defer to the student regarding the completion of the form.
- Student may decide who is involved in the IDSP process. Recommended support includes the student’s school counselor, school social worker or LGBTQ Liaison, and familial support person(s). Teacher(s) and/or administrator may also attend, but a smaller group size is preferable.
- Only complete portions of the form with which the student is comfortable. Most importantly, discuss with the student name and gender and/or pronoun changes, circle of support, safety, and resource linkages.
- Remember, this is about developing a working relationship to support the student’s safety; it’s not about the form
