The South Dakota High School Activities Association is considering a policy that will allow transgender students to participate in activities according to their gender identity.
Sioux City Journal reports that the association's attorney is reviewing the policy. Wayne Carney, who is the executive director of the association that oversees high school sports and fine arts, expects the policy to be approved in June, which will be effective as soon as it passes.
"I'm sure we'll have a policy in place," Carney said. "So we can adequately meet their needs."
According to Carney there haven't been any objections in the state thus far. California enacted a similar policy five years ago, and from there states across the country have followed.
Under this policy, the schools have to review requests by transgender students or their guardians and decide which activities the student is allowed to participate in. The request will then go to a Gender Identification Eligibility Committee, where they will make the final ruling.
The policy also asks for schools to use appropriate pronouns with transgender students and educate students and staff on transgender sensitivity.