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Report
Welcoming Schools Annual Report 2025
Fiscal Year 2025
Human Rights Campaign Foundation, April 2025
Welcoming Schools Annual Report 2025
Table of Contents
Letter From Kelley Robinson
This year has been an unprecedented year for anti-LGBTQ legislation in our country. In 2024, we saw over 500 pieces of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation introduced across the country. Now, in 2025, we've already tracked more than 450 additional bills, 214 of which directly target our schools. This onslaught is not just alarming—it's a call to action. And that is precisely why the work of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Welcoming Schools program is more vital than ever.
Our annual report shines a light on the urgency of this work—but just as importantly, it tells a story of hope, resilience, and transformation. Welcoming Schools empowers educators and youth-serving professionals across the nation to create safe, affirming learning environments for all children, from Pre-K through high school. In these challenging times, it stands as a beacon, equipping schools with accessible training, resources, and actionable policies to foster inclusive classrooms where every student feels seen and supported.
At a time when anti-LGBTQ+ legislation is being weaponized against our youth, Welcoming Schools is actively countering these attacks with knowledge, compassion, and purpose. The program's annual National Day of Reading is a powerful testament to this mission, celebrating LGBTQ+ representation in literature. By partnering with organizations to expand access to books that reflect the diverse identities of students and families, Welcoming Schools is ensuring that youth can see themselves in the pages they read—and feel affirmed in their truth.
With book bans and censorship on the rise, our commitment to inclusive education has never been more urgent. Welcoming Schools continues to support educators with curated LGBTQ+ book lists, comprehensive lesson plans, and book donations that bring essential stories to life. This effort is about more than just literature—it's about ensuring that every child feels valued and included in their educational journey.
HRC's Welcoming Schools program is a powerful source of hope in the face of adversity, navigating this challenging legal landscape with unwavering dedication to inclusion and intersectionality. In just the past year, Welcoming Schools training programs have positively impacted the lives of nearly 500,000 students, empowering youth-serving adults with the tools to build safer, more inclusive environments.
Every LGBTQ+ student and their family deserves to flourish in a school environment that not only recognizes their identities but also ensures their right to a safe and supportive atmosphere. I am incredibly proud to see the unwavering dedication of the HRC Foundation's Welcoming Schools team as they work tirelessly to turn this vision into reality every day. Together, we are building a brighter future.
Sincerely,
Kelley Robinson (She/Her/Hers) , President , Human Rights Campaign
Introduction
Since 2008, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Welcoming Schools program has consistently provided policies and practices for educators and school communities. Developed using an intersectional, anti-racist lens, the Welcoming Schools program is committed to ensuring that PK-12 schools have access to the tools necessary to guarantee that students have access to schools that embrace family diversity, prevent bias-based bullying, and support transgender and non-binary students.
In 2025, the Annual Report for Welcoming Schools highlights new training resources for educators and community members as well as the introduction of e-learning modules. In addition, the 2025 Annual Report shares the growing impact of this work on educators in all 50 states. This continued growth represents the dedication that Welcoming Schools has to uplift educators and youth-serving professionals with the tools they need to create safe, inclusive schools for all students.
As students and educators face serious challenges through anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, including the first anti-LGBTQ+ federal law in almost thirty years, this work is more urgent than ever. The Welcoming Schools program remains committed to supporting educators, students, and community members with actionable tools, accessible resources, and the supportive guidance they need to ensure safe and welcoming schools for ALL of our students and families.
Why Is This Work Important?
Data from the most recent HRC LGBTQ+ Youth Report highlights the critical state of schools for our youth.
LGBTQ+ youth continue to face significant challenges to their safety in school communities. More than half of LGBTQ+ youth report that they have been victimized due to their identity, while 1 in 4 (24%) LGB and 1 in 3 (35%) of transgender students report that they have skipped school because they have felt unsafe at school or on the way to school. Ensuring that all students are safe and supported at school improves their ability to focus, engage in class, and perform academically.
Welcoming Schools Professional Development is a key solution to helping to ensure that all educators know how to identify and effectively intervene when bullying occurs. When educators are not empowered to address bias-based bullying in their schools, student safety and academic outcomes suffer. When schools create affirming spaces for children, they flourish!
Bix, a 17-year-old senior, reflects on their high school experience as a student who has experienced a supportive middle and high school environment:
Schools can work together to create this reality from the start. Dr. Amie Carter, the superintendent of Sonoma County, shared the transformative impact of Welcoming Schools on her school system of over 66,500 students. This work has impacted teachers, librarians, custodians and bus drivers. As she shares, small moments, starting with getting on the bus, can set the stage for great success.
“We have had so many little moments that have been so powerful. We had a bus driver who thought about the language he was using to address his students, and changed his language to be more inclusive as he welcomed his students on the bus in the morning. If we can build a day for students without divisions and triggers for a child, that’s pretty awesome.”
Read more about Dr. Carter and Sonoma County in our Outstanding Districts below!
“This was truly the best professional development I have attended.”
A 2024 HRC Foundation survey of youth-serving professionals reveals that those who receive targeted training on LGBTQ+ topics are significantly better prepared to support and protect LGBTQ+ young people in their work. To create inclusive and affirming environments, schools and other youth-serving organizations must offer these essential learning opportunities for their staff. Additionally, individuals should seek out both in-person and online training to enhance their knowledge and skills in working with LGBTQ+ youth.
Educators who have participated in Welcoming Schools professional development consistently report a greater understanding of the importance of this work and increased confidence in their ability to support LGBTQ+ students while fostering inclusive school communities.
Years of district engagement in Welcoming Schools show an increase in inclusive school climates, beginning with educator preparedness, which is critical support to LGBTQ+ students in classroom settings.
District Partnerships
This year, Welcoming Schools proudly partnered with six school districts in four states, welcoming 100 newly-trained district facilitators! Our district partnerships create an opportunity for educators within a district to become trained facilitators to deliver training to schools within the district, allowing for a sustainable approach to creating schools that affirm all students. Check out a video about this exciting work, and interested districts are encouraged to reach out to learn more!
Preparing educators with the confidence and competency needed to support LGBTQ+ students starts with professional development, which is more crucial than ever, and our district partnerships help us to continue this essential work.
From the moment Dr. Amie Carter was running for the elected position of Sonoma County superintendent of schools, she got right to work affirming her commitment to inclusive and safe school communities for all of her Sonoma County. Dr. Carter shares, “Welcoming Schools became a no brainer- the gold standard solution for us. It’s been a great partnership for us.”
Sonoma County is the first County of Office of Education that Welcoming Schools has started a district partnership with, pushing the reach even further across California. SCOE serves a footprint of 40 school districts reaching roughly 64,500 students and Welcoming Schools has impacted over half of the districts in the first 6 months.
Thank you to Dr. Carter and to the Sonoma County Community for their deep commitment to our students. In her powerful words, “Hatred is the poison and initiatives like Welcoming School are the medicine and the salve. It is the way we push back and make a difference. Welcoming Schools was the right initiative at the right time for us!”
And families agree…
“This is wonderful to see our schools and the district collaborate, model collaboration and partnership/community for our kids! These shifts and calls for district action have been happening for decades and we make a little progress at a time. This is one more step we take together as a community. As a founding TIDE member (from 2018/19) and a queer parent who has consistently focused on building awareness for our teachers, I am beside myself grateful to see these programs coming to our schools!”
Welcoming Schools launched several exciting new resources in 2024. These initiatives are designed to make professional development more accessible to schools and communities, and serve to support the development of safe and inclusive schools for more students. These new resources meet the demand and time constraints that many schools have with professional development.
E-LEARNING: Supporting Transgender and Non-Binary Students
We know that affirming adults can make all the difference for transgender and non-binary kids, reducing their risk of negative health outcomes by as much as 40%. With these trainings, anyone can start the journey of being that affirming adult.
Through storytelling and visually engaging interactive content, these online modules equip learners to create schools that are truly welcoming and supporting for trans and non-binary students. These trainings teach about common topics impacting trans and non-binary students in schools, and provide the essential tools and best practices to support all students.
CYBERBULLYING: Strategies and Practical Considerations for Creating LGBTQ+ Affirming Schools
Preventing bias-based bullying is a key area of focus in our work with schools, and cyberbullying is an ever-increasing issue, especially with LGBTQ+ students. In this one-hour training, educators learn about the definition of cyber bullying and review important data around the impact cyberbullying has on all students, and on LGBTQ+ students in particular.
Educators also learn about the roles that all students play in cyberbullying, and then learn how to take steps to prevent it from occurring. Though there are a number of strategies educators can employ, they also practice ways to respond to cyberbullying, as they review the laws and policies that apply to cyberbullying. The length of this training provides an opportunity to reach educators when professional development time is limited, and provides an important introduction to the strong, effective professional development provided by the Welcoming Schools program!
Navigating Supports for LGBTQ+ Students Receiving Special Education Services
HRC’s Welcoming Schools is committed to helping create safe and affirming school climates for people from historically marginalized backgrounds. While the Welcoming Schools program primarily focuses on the school experiences of LGBTQ+ kids, the following considerations reflect the intersectional needs of queer and transgender students who are also disabled, neurodivergent, or in need of additional support and accommodations to access the general education curriculum at school. Check out our resource page here.
Check Out Our Resources
On February 28, 2025, Welcoming Schools hosted its tenth Welcoming Schools National Day of Reading: A Celebration of Trans Stories! This year’s event offered expanded readings and lesson prompts for secondary schools and provided an opportunity for thousands of students, educators, parents, elected officials and allies to join in solidarity with transgender and non-binary students. As we know, books provide endless opportunities for empathy and compassion building. This year readings were held in communities across the country, in libraries, bookstores, places of worship, community centers and beyond!
The Welcoming Schools National Day of Reading was hosted by The HRC Foundation and partnership with the National Educational Association (NEA), the country’s largest professional employee organization, representing 3 million educators across the U.S and the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), representing over 7,000 school librarians in the U.S., Canada and abroad.
Reading is Essential
We are proud to partner with organizations that help ensure students have books that reflect ALL people and ALL families are accessible to ALL students!
Let Kids Read: Welcoming Schools Training: Let Kids Read Training Grant returned in 2025! Let Kids Read is a grant initiative from Penguin Random House providing five Title 1 schools with free trainings. In January, schools and communities that are looking for anti-bias, LGBTQ+ and gender inclusive professional development training applied for a Let Kids Read PD Teaching Grant. Penguin Young Readers and Random House Children’s Books are sponsoring school trainings from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Welcoming Schools program for FIVE Title 1 schools!
Open Books: Open Books brings LGBTQ+ affirming stories to school libraries across the country. Welcoming Schools partners with Open Books to ensure each book they donate also has a dedicated Welcoming Schools lesson plan so that educators can enrich the classroom with discussions and activities to create more affirming classrooms.
“Earning the Seal of Excellence united our staff and transformed our school community by grounding our commitment to inclusivity in clear values, policies, and curriculum. We now integrate Welcoming Schools values through monthly lessons, community events, and visible displays—like our lobby banner—that consistently remind everyone they are seen, celebrated, and safe. Our training, policies, and systems anchor our community by fostering belonging and providing support to navigate current challenges with resilience and hope.”
- Massachusetts K-12 Principal
Schools earning the Welcoming Schools Seal of Excellence (SOE) demonstrate a strong commitment to safe, supportive and inclusive schools by meeting a set of benchmarks, including policies that are in place and enumerated to all aspects of diversity; an established Welcoming Schools leadership team; completing the Welcoming Schools staff development modules; hosting school family nights; and having books from Welcoming Schools bibliographies that are publicly available to all students in the library/media center and classrooms, among other important benchmarks.
Earning the Seal of Excellence is an amazing achievement and a testament to the commitment of the whole school community. This year, the Amherst Pelham District is the first full district to seek the Seal of Excellence. The Amherst Early Education Center began this work by earning their Seal of Excellence in June!
The Washington International School (WIS), in Washington D.C., is the first Pre-K- 12 school to earn the Seal of Excellence! The WIS community began working with Welcoming Schools four years ago, and affirmed their commitment to their core values. The school administration shared, “Welcoming Schools really meets the community where they are and reaches every constituent in the school: the PD for staff, the family resources and the student activities all connect to our commitment to integrity, inclusion and initiative.” Congratulations to the Washington International School!
"In the midst of outrageous legislative attacks on families and students across the nation by lawmakers who wish to silence and erase the LGBTQ+ community in our schools, we’re inspired by educators who are going the extra mile to create truly welcoming schools. Creating LGBTQ+ and gender-inclusive schools means embracing and welcoming all students and families as their authentic selves – it is simply the right thing to do. Educators want to create wholesome environments in which students can learn, grow and thrive. Welcoming Schools gives educators the resources to do just that."
We are incredibly proud of our schools who have earned the Seal of Excellence in 2024!
Current Partners
Welcoming Schools is grateful for the collaborative efforts of our current partners:
Acknowledgements
A special thank you to HRC Senior Vice President, Equality Programs, Ellen Kahn for her leadership and guidance.
Thank you to our cadre of amazing consultants for their expertise and knowledge in developing our new resources. A special thank you to Danielle Murray for drafting this annual report.
Deep appreciation to Dr. Amie Carter from Sonoma County and folks at Washington International School and Amherst Public Schools in Amherst, Massachusetts for sharing their schools’ stories with us for this report.
Thank you to the finance team for being such strong partners with us to ensure our fee-for-service model thrives, and to HRC General Counsel for their leadership and guidance with all things related to Welcoming Schools contracting and intellectual property.
Thank you to the Marketing and Communications team for always elevating our important work in such a meaningful way.
A heartfelt thank you to all of our national facilitators who deliver Welcoming Schools training so effectively to schools around the country.
Last but certainly not least, thank you to Josette Matoto for designing this annual report in such a beautiful, compelling format.
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