N.B. Liberal government revises Policy 713, parental consent no longer required for students' preferred names
CTV
The New Brunswick Liberals are reversing course on the previous government’s decision to change Policy 713.
The New Brunswick Liberals are reversing course on the previous government’s decision to change Policy 713.
The governing Liberals announced students under the age of 16 will not require parental awareness to informally use their chosen first names and pronouns in school, although such awareness is encouraged. Parental consent will be required for formal use.
Students over the age of 16 do not need parental awareness for formal or informal use.
Claire Johnson, minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, said informal use refers to the name a student wants to be called in a school setting while formal use refers to the name that appears on school records.
“All students have the right and presumed capacity to self-identify and communicate their chosen first name and/or pronoun(s),” the policy reads. “Members of the school environment will use the chosen first name and/or pronoun(s) consistently.
“The expectation is that families are fully involved and aware. When a student is uncomfortable providing informed consent, the school will respect the student’s wishes and work with them to create a support plan to make their parent(s) aware when they are ready.”
The policy notes that in cases when a principal or school personnel has concerns about a student's capacity to understand the nature of their decision, an approved professional may assess them.
