Some Central Florida school districts are now requiring parents to sign a permission form in order for teachers to call students anything other than their legal name, according to a guidance released Monday.

Orange County Public Schools and Seminole County Public Schools both announced that teachers and other staff will need to use a student’s legal name to address the student unless approved by a parent or legal guardian.

The move comes after the Florida State Board of Education adopted a change to the administration code that required, “Each school board must adopt a policy for educational records which must include: Provisions for parents to specify the use of any deviation from their child’s legal name in school. School districts will develop a form to obtain parental consent along with any required documentation, as appropriate.”

The example provided by OCPS said if a student’s name is Robert, and they wished to be called Rob, a parent must sign and approve the nickname before faculty are allowed to use the nickname.

The policy also applies to transgender students, according to the statement.

“With respect to our transgender students, a parent may fill out the form allowing the usage of a transgender name,” the guidance stated. “As an example, if the student’s legal name is Robert, but the student identifies as a transgender girl and uses the name Roberta, the parent may authorize a teacher or other personnel to call the student Roberta.”

Orlando resident Jen Cousins has four children returning to school this year, she feels overwhelmed by the amount of rule changes.

“I have never seen more forms in my life before. I have to fill out before my kids go back to school,” said Cousins.

Cousins has a 14-year-old named Saffron, who identifies as nonbinary and says the required form is an attack on transgender students and is part of a political agenda.

“I think it’s designed to make trans and nonbinary students uncomfortable in their everyday school environment,” said Cousins.

Even with the approved change, the district was quick to point out that teachers and other staff can use the preferred name of a transgendered student, but don’t have to use preferred pronouns, even with parental approval.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB 1069 into law earlier this summer that among other things, allowed teachers and other school staff to refuse to use a student’s preferred pronouns, if they chose to. The law also limits discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom. 

Other Florida school districts

Other Florida districts are incorporating their own policies. In Hernando County, there is no formal permission form, but parents need to send a note to the teacher. Pasco County parents can add a nickname to their parent portal.

These policies follow a handful of new rules adopted by the Florida Department of Education. One other states that children may not use a bathroom that doesn’t correspond with their biological sex at birth.

“There is no higher calling than to protect our children from unwelcome influences and indoctrination,” said Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. in a statement following the passage of the new policies. “The rules adopted today ensure that our kids can be kids while in the care of our schools.”