Jerome Joint School District No. 261

STUDENTS 3572

Student Records Name/Gender Change

State and federal law and District policy require that all District programs, activities, and practices be free from

discrimination. This policy is designed in keeping with these mandates to create a safe learning environment for all

students and to ensure that every student has equal access to all school programming and activities.

The Jerome School District respects the right of a student to be addressed by a name or pronoun that corresponds

to the student’s gender identity. Regardless of whether a transgender or gender non-conforming student has legally

changed their name or gender, schools will allow such students to use a chosen name and gender pronouns that

reflect their consistently asserted gender identity. However, there are some documents that will still require the

use of the student’s legal name and sex assigned at birth. Such documents may include, but are not limited to,

truancy, criminal charges, student identification cards, yearbook, etc. All such requests will be assessed on a case-

by-case basis. In all cases, the goal is to ensure the safety, comfort, and healthy development of the student,

considering the student’s social integration while minimizing stigmatization of the student.

Due to federal and state laws protecting student records, any substantive changes to a student’s name and/or

gender in the student’s official record must follow proper procedures as set forth in this policy. The Jerome School

District will process requests for name/gender changes for currently enrolled students only.

Name Changes

To request that educational records reflect a name change, a student or parent/guardian must complete and submit

the Request for Name/Gender Change form, along with supporting documentation, to the District administration.

A student’s “name-of-record” is defined as the legal name under which the student was initially enrolled in the

Jerome School District. “Legal name” is defined as that name verified by a birth certificate, marriage certificate,

social security card, passport, or court order. Students wishing to change their name in their student permanent

record from the name of record under which they were enrolled in the District must provide the District with legal

documentation stating their new legal name. “Student permanent record” as used herein refers to all records and

data directly related to an individual student which is incorporated into each student’s cumulative permanent record

and intended for school district use.

Upon receipt and verification of legal documentation stating their new legal name, the District will change the

student’s name in the student’s permanent record. At the District’s discretion, minor changes in name (e.g., spelling

corrections) may also be made at any time. In such instances, the student may be expected to provide

documentation such as a current driver’s license with photo, social security card, or resident alien card.

Gender Changes

A student’s official educational record reflects the gender the student was identified as when s/he enrolled in the

School District. Students who subsequently wish to change the gender designation in their official educational

record must complete and submit the Request for Name/Gender Change Form (See Policy No. 3572F) to the School District administration, along with at least one of the following documents:

1. A certified copy of a court order recognizing a change of gender;

2. Medical certification of appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition in the form of a certified copy

of a letter from a licensed physician;

3. Certified copy of a birth certificate showing the new gender; or

4. Other government issued identification reflecting the new gender.

The signed statement from the attending medical physician must be on office letterhead and include:

1. Physician’s full name;

2. Medical license or certificate number;

3. Issuing state or other jurisdiction of medical license/certificate;

4. Address and telephone number of the physician;

5. Language stating the s/he is the student’s attending physician and that s/he has a doctor/patient

relationship with the student;

6. Language stating that the student had appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition to the new

gender; and

7. Language stating “I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States that the foregoing

is true and correct.”

Student Privacy

All students have a right to privacy. Information about a student’s gender status, legal name, or gender assigned at

birth may constitute confidential information. School personnel should not disclose information that may reveal a

student’s gender status to others unless legally required to do so or unless the parent/guardian, or student over the

age of 18, has authorized such disclosure. School personnel should use the student’s legal name and student’s

gender assigned at birth unless the student, parent, or guardian has specified otherwise.

Legal Reference: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.

34 CFR Part 106

34 CFR Part 99 (Family Education Rights and Privacy Act)

IC §67-5901 et seq. (Commission on Human Rights)

IC §33-506(1) (Organization and government of board of trustees)

IC §7-801 et seq. (Change of Names)

IDAPA 16.02.08.201.06 (Change of Gender/Name)

Policy History:

Adopted on: 02/26/2019

Revised on: