School district announces procedures for providing consent to use different names and for health treatments and screenings

Staff report

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – A newsletter that went out to Alachua County Public Schools parents provides information about how parents can give consent for schools to use a name other than their child’s legal name and to receive health care at school, including management of chronic health conditions and vision, hearing, scoliosis, and dental screenings.

Using a different name

A new Florida Board of Education rule requires school districts to provide a form that parents can use to “specify the use of any deviation from their child’s legal name in school.” This includes any shortened version of a student’s legal name or a completely different name.

Families can consent to the use of a different name by going to the “Annual Updates” section in their Skyward Family Access account; they can also request a hard copy of the form from the child’s school. The form can also be downloaded here and returned to a school administrator.

If a student asks to be called by anything other than their legal name at school, a school administrator will contact a parent to let them know how to submit the form.

Health treatment and screenings

Under a new state law, parents and guardians also must give “active consent” for health care and screenings at school, although all students will be provided with emergency care as deemed necessary by a school nurse.

Parents must complete the new Consent for Health Services form, which can be found under the “Annual Updates” section in their Skyward Family Access account.

If a child needs medication at school, parents must also complete a Medication/Treatment Authorization Form.