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Display Names In Saint Paul Public Schools
Saint Paul Public Schools is committed to ensuring all students experience a positive school and district culture. Respecting all students’ names across traditional in-person classrooms and digital, personalized learning environments is important to communicating to students that their identities are recognized and valued.History
When SPPS implemented digital learning tools and spaces such as Google Suite and Schoology, students’ legal “first name” as recorded in the student record system was used as the display name across systems. This was different from the common practice in classrooms where educators and students often refer to each other by a nickname, common name, or other preferred and asserted name. Asking everyone in a traditional learning space to use a different name for a student was simple and changes could be made quickly.
However, changing a student’s name in the digital learning tools proved to be more difficult and made it challenging for students, families and/or staff to respect the names students wanted to be called in their learning spaces.Display Name Updates
Students in SPPS will now be able to have their preferred name reflected in digital, personalized learning spaces in a similar manner to what has been common practice in traditional in-person classrooms. For instance, a student whose legal name is “Jordan” but goes by the name “Danny” will be able to be identified as “Danny” in Schoology and Google Meets.
FAQ
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What is a student Display Name in SPPS?
A student display name in SPPS is the name that other students in digital learning spaces such as Google Suite and Schoology will see in the space. This name will be visible to other authorized SPPS employees and the student’s family in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The display name will also be listed in the school directory for purposes including the yearbook, school announcements and school performances.
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Who determines the student Display Name?
A student display name is based on the name that student consistently asserts in the digital, personalized learning space and traditional in-person classroom environment. The student determines their own display name.
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When may a student’s Display Name be updated?
All families may update the display name as their student requests it at the beginning of the year through the iUpdate process. Otherwise, a student or their guardian may make an update to the display name once a year. A student or their guardian may request their school principal or other school administrator make additional updates to their display name.
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Does changing a student’s Display Name change their Legal First Name?
No, the display name is stored as a student’s “nickname” in the student record system. The nickname field was already being used by educators to record the name students were known by in learning spaces. Additionally, this field is prominently displayed in our current student record system, Campus, so it is easily visible to educators.
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How do I update a student's Legal First Name?
Contact the Placement Center for more information about updating a student’s legal name. You may reach out to your teacher, counselor, clerk or a school administrator as they may assist in making the update with the Placement Center.
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What if a student does not have a Nickname or does not want a different Display Name?
A student’s legal first name will be used in any instance where the student does not have a different nickname recorded in the student record system.
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Who will see the student Display Name?
The display name is visible in any SPPS managed technology account including Schoology and Seesaw. Any student, staff or parent with access to the student’s work in these spaces would see the Display Name.
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Can student Display Name be different for different people?
No, at this time it is not possible to make a Display Name appear differently for specific individuals or groups of SPPS authorized users. Anyone who is permitted access to a student’s information would see the student’s display name.
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Will the student’s legal First Name ever be visible?
A student’s legal first name as recorded in the student record system will remain visible to guardians and authorized SPPS users including the student’s educators, counselor, social worker, nurse, clerk and school leaders in accordance with FERPA. A student’s legal first name will be used when necessary such as on testing documents, medical documents, legal documents and in some other instances.
