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Student Name Change
Purpose
In accordance with C.R.S. 22-1-145, state and federal civil rights laws, and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Colorado Early Colleges (CEC) is committed to ensuring an educational environment free from discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
This policy establishes how CEC will honor a student’s request to use a chosen name and/or preferred pronoun at school and outlines the procedure for amending a student’s official educational record when appropriate.
Scope
This policy applies to all students enrolled in CEC schools and to all staff responsible for student instruction, supervision, or support.
Parental Rights
CEC recognizes and affirms the important role of parents and legal guardians as partners in their minor child’s education and is committed to honoring parental rights consistent with state and federal law. Parents and guardians retain the right to review their student’s official educational records; request corrections as permitted under law and be involved in decisions affecting those records. At the same time, CEC must also comply with applicable privacy, nondiscrimination, and student-safety requirements, and therefore will balance parent involvement with legal obligations to protect student confidentiality and well-being. Nothing in this policy is intended to limit a parent or guardian’s lawful access to their child’s educational record or participation in educational decision-making as provided under FERPA and Colorado law.
Definitions
Chosen Name, as defined in Colorado law, is any name a student requests to be known as that differs from the student’s legal name, to reflect the student’s gender identity.
Legal Name is an individual’s legal name as it appears on official government documents such as licenses, passports, and birth certificates.
Official Records are records including, but not limited to, transcripts, grade reports, attendance, schedules, health records, and discipline files.
Use of a Chosen Name or Pronoun
CEC recognizes and supports a student’s right to be addressed by a chosen first name and/or gender pronoun. Any student may request to be consistently recognized by a chosen name or pronoun at school and during school-sponsored activities. Students are not required to provide legal documentation or parent/guardian approval to be referred to by a chosen name or pronoun in everyday interactions. Parents may be notified of their student’s chosen name or pronoun if appropriate.
Staff Expectations
School staff must strive to use all students’ chosen names or pronouns. The school understands that honest mistakes may occur, but the intentional or knowing refusal to use a student’s chosen name (for example, intentionally referring to the student by their legal name or another name that does not correspond to the student’s gender identity) is prohibited under this policy and under Colorado House Bill 24-1039.
Changes to Official Student Records
A student or parent can make a formal request to the school to change a student’s chosen name or gender on the student record by contacting the school’s admissions department. Changes to a student’s name or gender marker in the official record require:
- a parent/guardian signature (if the student is under 18); or
- a court order confirming the legal change.
Limitations
- CEC may deny a chosen first name if the request:
- is vulgar, obscene, offensive;
- is used for misrepresentation or illegal purposes;
- includes characters other than standard alphabetic letters (a–z); or
- disrupts the learning environment.
Privacy & Confidentiality
Personally Identifiable Information (PII) about a student is considered confidential under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Information about a student’s chosen name, gender identity, legal name, or sex assigned at birth may constitute confidential personally identifiable information. CEC staff may only access or disclose such information if they have a legitimate educational interest or if disclosure is otherwise legally permitted. When legal names or sex assigned at birth must be used (e.g., reporting, standardized testing), staff must take steps to avoid inadvertent disclosure of confidential information.
Legal Compliance:
This policy complies with:
- 34 C.F.R. §99.1 et seq. (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act regulations)
- 34 C.F.R. §99.20(d)
- 34 C.F.R. §99.31
- 3 C.C.R. 708-1:81.6(A)(4)
- C.R.S. 22-1-145
- C.R.S. 22-1-145(b)
- Colorado House Bill 24-1039
- Kelly Loving Act (HB 25-1312)
Questions?
CEC encourages staff, students, parents, and all members of the CEC community to become familiar with our policies and procedures. For questions or comments regarding our policies and procedures, please contact:
Melissa Talan, MBA
Executive Office Administrator
SECTION: Students
Student Name Change
Approved: 02/2026