Students at Columbus City Schools were surprised on March 19 when their preferred names were replaced with their legal birth certificate names in the district’s system, Infinite Campus. The change affected many transgender and nonbinary students, who were not informed in advance.
One parent described how their son learned of the change during class and called them in a panic. “My son has not physically been back to school since March 19,” the parent said. “We unenrolled him for his safety.”
Izetta Thomas of the Columbus Education Justice Coalition noted that all name changes in the system had parental consent. She called the sudden reversal “indescribable” and criticized the district for a lack of transparency.
Superintendent Angela Chapman later apologized in a letter, acknowledging that the district failed to give prior notice or provide emotional support. The district cited recent Ohio laws, including a bathroom bill and the Parents’ Bill of Rights, but advocates say no law required the name change reversal.
Community members plan to raise concerns at the next Board of Education meeting.
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