Sask.'s largest school divisions say they'll enforce pronoun law as kids head back to class

Saskatchewan's two largest school divisions say they've addressed concerns from teachers and are enforcing the province's pronoun law as children head back to classrooms next week.

Jason Coleman, superintendent of student achievement at Regina Public Schools, says students under 16 who want to change their names or pronouns in school are required to have parental consent. Those older than 16 do not need consent.

Some parents have said no, said Coleman. When that happens, the division works with students on getting them to a place where they can communicate with their families.

"We've had to do it before the [legislation] and after," Coleman said.

"Compliance looks like we're being respectful of our students and being respectful of our parents within the legislation that exists. Even before the legislation, we strove, we worked towards and we tried to include parents in all things that we did."

Coleman declined to say how teachers are disciplined if they don't follow the law.

A spokesperson for Saskatoon Public Schools said in an email that all employees are expected to follow and enforce the legislation as they do with other policies.

"It has always been our process to encourage students of any age to involve their parents or guardians in discussions about name changes and pronoun changes," the statement said.

It said the division has let students know it can't always guarantee privacy if different names are used by teachers and peers.

"Students not ready to share this information with their family generally decided to wait until they were ready to do so."

Premier Scott Moe's Saskatchewan Party government said it introduced the requirement as a rule in August 2023 to make sure parents are included in their children's lives.

A court challenge later caused Moe to recall the legislature to make the rule a law. The legislation invoked the notwithstanding clause, a measure that allows governments to override certain Charter rights for up to five years.

A judge ruled the challenge could continue. The province then sought an appeal, which is to be heard in September.

Moe hasn't offered details on how teachers would be punished if they don't abide by the law. He has left it up to school divisions to make sure it's followed.