Student Name Changes

Policy a student has the right to choose a name and pronoun appropriate to the student's gender

identity, regardless of the student's assigned birth sex and name that appears on the student's birth

certificate. Schools should accurately record and use the student's chosen name and pronouns that are

consistent with the student's gender identity. Court orders are not required to update student records

to reflect changes in a student's name and gender markers. Schools will work with a student and the

parents/guardians/caregivers of the student if they are involved in the process, or in the case of a

younger student with the student and the student's parents/guardians/caregivers, to develop a plan for

communicating any name and pronoun change within the school. The process to initiate a name and

pronoun change is as follows:

The student and/or their parent/guardian/caregiver should email, call, or go to the school clerk and ask

for a name change form. Pre-kindergarten to grade 8 students will need their parent/guardian/caregiver

to be part of the requesting process. High school students can request a name change themselves

without parent/guardian/caregiver permission.

The school clerk should change the student's name in Aspen.

High school students and students in grades 6 through 8 may also request that their preferred name be

used during the school day and when using online educational technology tools. Request for utilization

of a preferred name will only result in an update of the student record to also include the preferred

name. Parents/guardians/caregivers may opt out of having their student in grades 6 through 8 request

the use of a preferred name by completing an annual opt-out form. High school students can request

the use of a preferred name themselves without parent/guardian/caregiver permission. The school

clerk should include the student’s preferred name in ASPEN for a high school student when request and

for students in grades 6 through 8 when the parent/guardian/caregiver has completed an opt out form.

Policy references: ACA-1

Legal References: Chapter 199 of the Acts of 2011

M.G.L.c. 76, §5

603 CMR 26.00

Guidance for Massachusetts Public Schools Creating a Safe and Supportive

School Environment