Teacher Support Helps Trans Students Thrive in School

Transgender students perform better academically and feel more connected to their schools when teachers actively support their identities, according to groundbreaking research from GLISTEN and the Trevor Project.

The study surveyed nearly 5,700 trans and nonbinary students ages 13 to 24 across the country. The findings are clear: students whose identities are affirmed at school report higher grades, greater classroom participation, and a stronger sense of belonging.

"School environments can play a powerful role in determining whether transgender and nonbinary students thrive or struggle at school," said Derrick Matthews, director of research science at the Trevor Project.

The research identified specific actions that make a measurable difference. When teachers ask about and use students' correct names and pronouns, discuss LGBTQ+ topics in class, and support student groups like Gender and Sexuality Alliances, trans students feel substantially safer. Access to inclusive policies like using facilities aligned with their gender identity and connecting with LGBTQ+ peers showed similar positive effects.

The challenges facing these students remain significant. More than half reported their school had at least one discriminatory policy, and roughly 60% experienced negative events at school. Twenty-five percent missed 16 or more school days last year.

But researchers emphasized the data points toward solutions, not just problems.

The Bright Side

The study reveals a roadmap for creating environments where all students can succeed. The answer isn't complex or expensive. It's teachers showing up with intention and affirmation.

Shweta Moorthy, director of research at GLISTEN, noted that students want more than neutral silence. "There is a clarion call in our research from students for their educators to show up in much more proactive and affirming ways," she said. "Safety isn't just the absence of harm."

Students aren't asking for grand gestures. They're asking for visibility, respect, and the same opportunities to learn and grow that every student deserves. When teachers provide that support, the results show up in grades, attendance, and engagement.

The research offers something powerful: evidence that small, daily acts of affirmation create real academic and emotional benefits. Teachers already hold the tools to help their students thrive.