Understanding the Well-Being of LGBTQI+ Populations Educational Environments

Course overview

This course is based upon material published by the National Academies Press and is available as an open-access article. This course considers the body of research in the last decade on the school experiences of sexual and gender diverse (SGD) students. Most research in this area has focused on school experiences in middle schools and high schools, but we note examples where research has extended to elementary schools and higher education. Much of the research has focused on experiences of bullying and victimization, yet there is a growing body of research that identifies educational policies and practices that are associated with positive experiences for SGD students, whether through reducing bullying and victimization or improving school climates. SGD youth are coming out at younger ages and are therefore encountering unique experiences in schools with peer groups based on their sexual orientation and gender identity at earlier stages. Experiences that SGD students have in school are important because school has historically been a primary institution that has socialized cis-normativity and heteronormativity in the lives of children and youth. Furthermore, negative experiences in school not only undermine personal well-being but also affect educational attainment and, ultimately, occupational attainment and socioeconomic status. In addition, SGD issues in education extend beyond the experiences of individual students. Research on lesbian and gay parents and their children has illuminated the issues that parents navigate in their childrens schools, as well as the experiences of their children as students. This course on educational environments and SGD individuals is designed for social workers, professional counselors, psychologists, nurses, and substance abuse counselors, who do clinical work. This course is appropriate for beginning and intermediate level practitioners who wish to develop or increase their knowledge of SGD educational concerns. It may also be useful for licensed clinicians who require clinical continuing education courses for license renewal. Authors: National Academies of Sciences Learning Objectives: This course will provide the practitioner with detailed information regarding educational environments vis-a-vis SGD people. Specifically, a professional will: Describe the types of discrimination SGD students experience at school Summarize education laws and school policies that impact SGD individuals Identify school practices and programs that are associated with safe and supportive school climates for all students Citation: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 2020. Understanding the Well-Being of LGBTQI+ Populations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25877.