CCS apologizes after TransOhio says schools outed students
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The Columbus City Schools superintendent is apologizing for the "hurt and frustration" caused by the choice to revert student names to match birth certificates, though the district is refusing to answer questions about the controversial decision.
Why it matters: The sudden change reportedly outed multiple students who are transgender or have legal name changes.
What they did: CCS updated its internal records and the Infinite Campus online student/parent portal to reflect only the legal name on students' birth certificates.
- District spokesperson Tyler Carter says notices of the update were later mailed to parents "who had previously requested a name or gender change for their student." Other letters were mailed directly to students over 18.
Yes, but: That change doesn't just alter official documents — it meant that students were unexpectedly deadnamed or outed in the middle of class, TransOhio executive director Dara Adkison told WCMH-TV.
- Adkison said some children were outed on the school's smart boards to classmates and teachers during attendance, "none of whom knew that they were trans."
Behind the scenes: The district made the records change because of Ohio's new "bathroom bill," Carter told Axios in an email days after the change.
- The law, which went into effect Feb. 25, bans transgender students from using bathrooms that match their gender identity.
- Carter says the district updated names to "ensure legal compliance regarding official student records," and says students can still ask to be called by a preferred name at school.
Reality check: The state law sets no guidelines for names — legal or otherwise — and the word "name" does not appear in its text.
- "Nothing proposed in the state house or at a federal level that would necessitate this kind of change," Adkison told the Dispatch.
Friction point: Nearly two weeks later, the district's communications team declined to explain that discrepancy.
- "At this time, our legal team will not be available for an interview, as our focus remains on supporting the students and families directly impacted," Carter told Axios.
What they're saying: Superintendent Angela Chapman sent a statement to families saying her "primary focus has been understanding the harm done to our students, families and staff," while not mentioning the discrepancy either.
- "Unfortunately, the Ohio Legislature continues its attacks on transgender and gender variant students," Chapman continued, claiming the district "must operate within the bounds of the law to protect our students and staff."