School Districts must now give parents a way to authorize nicknames their students may use in school under a new rule published by the Florida Department of Education in May. The new rule complies with legislation signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis after the last legislative session.
That legislation, HB 1069, regulates statewide sex education policies and provides requirements connected to the use of pronouns and nicknames by K-12 students in Florida schools. DeSantis signed that legislation on May 17. It became effective on July 1.
On May 26, the Florida Department of Education (DOE) published its rule “to strengthen the rights of parents and safeguard their child’s educational record to ensure the use of the child’s legal name in school or a parent-approved nickname.”
Under rule 6a-1.0955, school districts were required to establish a process by which parents may specify the name a student may use in school that deviates from the student’s legal name. “This rule will ensure full transparency to enhance the student’s record and protect parental rights,” the Florida DOE said.
Hernando County School District Public Information Officer (PIO) Karen Jordan said the District has complied with the rule. “The district has added this permission to our Student Information System (SIS),” she said. “Parents can authorize permission through their account.”
For detailed information about the rule, visit 6A-1.0955 on the Florida Department of Education website.
