ELECTIONS, POLITICS, & GOVERNMENT

Bill would require Utah school districts to notify parents of change in student name, pronouns 

Jan 5, 2023, 3:18 PM | Updated: 8:00 pm

the state capitol is pictured, the utah supreme court is seeking more information about a redistric...

The Utah State Capitol is pictured in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Kira Hoffelmeyer/ KSL NewsRadio)

(Kira Hoffelmeyer/ KSL NewsRadio)

SALT LAKE CITY — A bill that could make its way to the Utah legislature in the 2023 session would require school districts to tell parents of any child who wants to use a different name or set of pronouns at school.

Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, confirmed to KSL NewsRadio he is running the bill titled School District Gender Identity Policies.

There’s no text of the school pronoun bill yet. But according to Weiler, it will prohibit school districts from creating any written plan for students that doesn’t also notify parents.

He says that includes when the plan requires a school to use the preferred pronouns or name of the student but said it was “to be determined” when asked if the bill would apply to any other scenario.

“I’m not saying that if a teacher finds out if a student is trans[gender] that they have to notify the parents,” said Weiler. “The trigger is, once a school district adopts a policy that we’re going to change a name, they can’t keep that secret from the parents.”

Weiler said his proposed school pronouns bill is in response to the Salt Lake City School District’s policy that he argues at one point allowed the principal to make the call on whether to notify parents.

“I just don’t believe that honors the parental rights of these parents,” he said. 

Weiler said last fall he communicated with the school board’s president, who assured him their policy would change. The board updated their policy on Gender Inclusion and their Confidential Student Support Plan in October of 2022.

Weiler said he’s still plans to run the bill.

“I think that’s something that needs to be clarified in state law,” he said. “We’re not condoning school districts adopting policies, creating secret files, and keeping secrets from parents.”

Salt Lake City schools’ pronoun policy

The Salt Lake City School District’s current policy says that parents must be notified before changing any official school record or communication with the student.

“Parental permission is required to request that a preferred or chosen name and/or gender marker be entered into the student’s records in the student information system (PowerSchool),” it states.

It adds that: “School personnel should encourage students to communicate with their parents; school counselors have a list of resources and services to help facilitate these conversations.”

The policy also states that students who have legally transitioned have a right to keep their gender assigned at birth private.

“A school may maintain records with this [gender] information, but such records should be stored by the school administrator in a secure location.”

Further, it states: “Parents have a right to access their student’s education records.”

A district spokeswoman provided the following statement:

Student health and safety is the paramount consideration when discussing a student’s privacy related to their transgender status. We do all we can to protect students’ privacy and confidentiality from parties who don’t need access to sensitive information, but, of course, parents always have the right to access any of their student’s education records. A student’s name would not be updated or changed in our system without parental permission and notification.

Other reading:

 

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Elections, Politics, & Government

Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump's choice to be the Director of National Intelligence, arrives...

David Klepper, Associated Press

Senate confirms Gabbard as Trump’s director of national intelligence after Republicans fall in line

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Tulsi Gabbard as President Donald Trump’s director of national intelligence after Republicans who had initially questioned her experience and judgment fell in line behind her nomination. Gabbard was an unconventional pick to oversee and coordinate the country’s 18 different intelligence agencies, given her past comments sympathetic to Russia, a meeting she held with […]

37 minutes ago

4-day school week...

Don Brinkerhoff

Could a 4-day school week be in the works for rural Utah?

A proposed bill would allow some schools to transition to a 4-day school week. The bill's sponsor said the bill would help rural areas.

20 hours ago

Jean-Michel Gisnel cries out while praying with other congregants at the First Haitian Evangelical ...

David Crary, Associated Press

Trump won’t block immigration arrests in houses of worship. Now these 27 religious groups are suing

More than two-dozen Christian and Jewish groups representing millions of Americans filed a lawsuit challenging a Trump administration move allowing immigration agents to make arrests at houses of worship.

1 day ago

FILE- A large soft drink with a plastic straw from a McDonald's restaurant is shown in Surfside, Fl...

Associated Press

Trump pushes for plastic straws, declares paper ones ‘don’t work’

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is moving to reverse a federal push away from plastic straws, declaring that paper straws “don’t work.” Trump signed an executive order Monday, saying: “It’s a ridiculous situation. We’re going back to plastic straws” The move by Trump — who has long railed against paper straws, and whose 2019 […]

2 days ago

The U.S. Capitol is seen, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)...

Allessandra Harris Gurr

Privilege tax may be added to the Point of the Mountain

A proposed bill may bring a privilege tax to the Point of the Mountain development.

2 days ago

utah capitol building. ‘You are inviting rapists to Utah’: Survivor urges lawmakers to consider...

DANIELLA RIVERA

‘You are inviting rapists to Utah’: Survivor urges lawmakers to consider consent bill

Just a small fraction of reported sexual assaults in Utah lead to rape charges filed in court, but year after year, a proposed solution has been met with resistance by lawmakers or ignored entirely on Capitol Hill.

3 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Full speed through the snow. A man on skis is pulled by his through the snow at full gallop Skijori...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Get ready for an unforgettable skijoring adventure in Bear Lake!

“Skijoring the Bear” takes place this year on February 21-22 in Garden City, Utah.

the bedroom in a geodesic dome shows the night sky...

Clear Sky Resorts Bryce Canyon

Your front row to an extraordinary cosmos show

As America's first glass dome stargazing resort, Clear Sky Resorts Bryce Canyon is one of the world’s most unique and spectacular places to stay.

2 people huddled up in a blanket and warm clothes sipping hot chocolate...

Bear Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau

The best ways to spend your Christmas vacation in Bear Lake

If you're dreaming of a white Christmas this year, Bear Lake should definitely be on your radar. Read this guide for more!

big crowd of people under holiday lights in an outdoor market...

Western Nut

Our favorite family Christmas activities in Utah

We gathered up a list of our favorite activities, movies, and treats to try this holiday season that the whole family can enjoy.

an IT tech looks at a laptop in front of a server network...

Comcast Business

Tips to protect yourself from phishing attacks

Check out this resource from Comcast Business to learn more about phishing attacks and how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of one.

A surprise gift, wrapped and ready to bring holiday cheer! Whether for Christmas, a birthday, or an...

Western Nut

10 Holiday Gift Ideas to cover everyone on your list

This guide is for you if you need holiday gift ideas that will make a lasting impression. 

Bill would require Utah school districts to notify parents of change in student name, pronouns