Transgender Students and How Schools Can Support Them

Abstract

Transgender students face various challenges due to lack of understanding and support. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to examine what it means to identify as transgender, the hardships these individuals face in the schools as well as outside of school, and the best practice approaches school professionals can implement in the schools to better support this group of students. Because school professionals have reported very little training on working with transgender youth, it is imperative that there is more attention towards supporting these students. Transgender youth are victimized at higher rates compared to their cisgender peers. As a result, they experience poor academic performance, mental health issues, suicide ideation, and family rejection. School-based professionals can implement effective interventions into their schools to better support transgender students. These include: a gay-straight alliance (GSA), gender-neutral spaces, sensitive classrooms, a supportive staff member, inclusive curriculum, and policies.