Manatee Schools Require Parental Consent for Students Using Nicknames
Parents in Manatee County are being asked to complete a new form if their child uses a name other than their legal first name at school. The “Parent Authorization for Deviation from Student’s Legal Name” form is now required by law and must be submitted through the FOCUS Parent Portal.
Under Florida Rule 6A-1.0955, the School District of Manatee County is obligated to use each student’s legal name—as it appears on their birth certificate—unless parents provide written authorization for an alternative name. This includes nicknames, middle names, or initials commonly used in place of a student’s full first name.
For example, students such as:
Isabella who prefers “Bella”
Harrison Joseph who goes by “Joey”
Darla Jean who uses “DJ”
Samuel, Jr who prefers “Jr”
must have a signed consent form on file for school personnel to use their preferred names in the classroom or school records.
The district advises parents to submit this form at least five business days before the start of school to ensure timely processing. With the first day of classes set for August 11th, families are encouraged to complete the process as soon as possible.
To access the form:
Log in to the FOCUS Parent Portal.
Select “Forms Summary” under your child’s name.
Click on “Parent Authorization for Deviation from Student’s Legal Name” in the “Available Forms” section.
Once submitted and approved, the authorized name will be entered into the student’s information system and used by Manatee County school personnel.
Failure to complete the form means school staff will be required to use the student's legal first name in all interactions and records.
