According to the documents, “the MPA is committed to maximizing the opportunities for all students to participate in interscholastic athletics and activities regardless of their gender identity or expression.”

The policy was approved Thursday by members at the MPA’s spring conference at the Samoset Resort, Executive Director Dick Durost said via email.

Among the highlights of the policy, which will take effect at the beginning of the 2013-14 academic year:

• The MPA will employ a five-person Gender Identity Equity Committee, four members of which will be current or former high school principals while the other will be a licensed health professional with gender identity health care experience. The committee will conduct hearings to determine a transgender student’s eligibility to compete on single-sex athletic teams that differ from the sex listed on the student’s birth certificate.

• The student and/or his or her parents must contact the school notifying officials that the student has a different gender identity than the one printed on their birth certificate and prefers to participate in a manner consistent with that identity. Documentation such as statements from parents, the student, medical professionals and teachers verifying the student’s gender identity must be provided to the Gender Equity Committee before the hearing, which will be confidential unless the student and family otherwise request.

• A female-to-male transgender student who has been or is being treated with testosterone related to gender transition must compete as a male.

• A single-sex team is defined as one on which only members of one gender are allowed to compete, either because the school sponsors both boys and girls teams in the particular sport or because the sport is limited to one gender to provide overall equal athletic opportunity, such as girls field hockey. Single-sex teams do not include those open to both boys and girls but where no girls have tried out or made the team, such as football.

Durost said the committee “voted overwhelmingly” to give the transgender policy full support.

“We have a responsibility to advocate for all students,” he said. “In the last year we have been approached by individual transgender students, asking about our policy. After reflection and reviewing similar policies in other states, we believe the time is right to do the right thing.”

In addition to the transgender policy, the MPA also approved a four-class format for high school football.