EXCLUSIVE: Ohio school district requires staff to use students' preferred names, pronouns

COLUMBUS, Ohio (CITC) — Staff members in an Ohio school district are required to use students' preferred names and pronouns, raising red flags with a parents' rights group.

The practice is mandated in Columbus City Schools' "Transgender and Gender Variant Students" policy, according to documents received by advocacy group Parents Defending Education (PDE) and shared exclusively with Crisis in the Classroom (CITC). The policy mandates that students be "addressed or referred to by the pronouns associated with their transgender and gender nonconforming identity," listing examples including "they" and "them."

The policy also notes that parents "must be kept informed of any name or pronoun usage changes," according to the documents received by PDE. However, it goes on to say that Columbus City Schools staff will work with families to reach "a mutually agreeable solution" in the event a parent is "opposed to any name or pronoun usage changes."

PDE argues the language is a concealed attempt to "ignore" parents' wishes.

"Columbus City Schools is clearly trying to subvert parental authority—and fly under the radar while doing so—with these vague and mealy-mouthed policies," Alex Nester, an investigative fellow for PDE, told CITC. "Columbus may not come out and say it, but these policies give the district the cover it needs to do just that."

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Nester pointed to the "over 1,000" school districts nationwide "actively pushing parents out of serious and sensitive conversations" as reason for Columbus families to be alarmed.

An analysis released in February determined that eight of the largest school districts in the U.S. allow students to request use of alternate names or pronouns without parental consent. The findings contradict a PDE poll which found that 74% of registered U.S. voters feel schools should not be able to help students "change their gender identity" without involving their parents.

In a statement to CITC, Columbus City Schools said it is "committed to fostering a safe and supportive environment for all students," noting that "when students and families feel empowered in their identity, it positively impacts school campuses and the community as a whole."

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"Parents are a vital component in this process and are not disregarded," the district told CITC, adding that meetings with parents are scheduled whenever students request to use alternate names or pronouns.

Columbus City Schools' "Transgender and Gender Variant Students" policy also permits students to use school facilities, such as locker rooms and restrooms, based on gender identity. Additionally, when making decisions pertaining to overnight field trips, the district says it will "take into consideration the desires of the individual transgender or gender nonconforming student."

Have something for the Crisis in the Classroom team to investigate? Call or text the national tip line at 202-417-7273.