Parents registering their children for kindergarten in Norwood encountered a question asking them to select pronouns for their five-year-old.

The online registration form for Willett Early Childhood Center, which manages kindergarten registration for Norwood Public Schools, asks parents to select their child’s gender and pronouns during enrollment.

The form lists three gender options: female, male, and nonbinary.

Parents then choose from nine pronoun sets: she/her, he/him, they/them, she/they, he/they, they/she, they/he, any/all, and ze/zir.

The form also asks parents to list a “preferred first name” for their child and provide guidance on how to pronounce the child’s first and last names.

An image of the form circulated widely online after the social media account Libs of TikTok shared it on X (Twitter). The account has over 4 million followers.

The post quickly generated thousands of reactions from users questioning why gender identity options appear on a kindergarten registration form.

Where the Norwood kindergarten registration form appears

Willett Early Childhood Center, located at 100 Westover Parkway in Norwood, uses the form.

The center manages kindergarten registration for Norwood Public Schools.

Registration for the upcoming school year opened Jan. 12 and closed Feb. 27.

Children must turn five by Aug. 31 to enroll in kindergarten.

Norwood Public Schools has not publicly responded to the online criticism surrounding the registration form. NPS superintendent Timothy Luff could not be reached for comment last week.

Gender identity guidance in Massachusetts schools

Massachusetts school districts operate under guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education regarding gender identity in schools.

The state does not mandate specific wording for school registration forms.

However, as NewBostonPost has previously reported, Norwood is not alone. Notably, Salem Public Schools asks about the preferred pronouns of incoming pre-K students.

Debates about gender identity policies in schools have intensified nationally in recent years.

In January 2025, President Donald Trump signed executive orders directing federal agencies to withhold funding from schools that use students’ preferred pronouns without parental consent.

The administration also warned states to remove gender ideology from sex education materials.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did the Norwood kindergarten form ask parents?
The form asked parents to select their child’s gender and pronouns during kindergarten enrollment.

What pronoun options were listed?
The form included nine pronoun options: she/her, he/him, they/them, she/they, he/they, they/she, they/he, any/all, and ze/zir.

Who uses the form?
Willett Early Childhood Center manages kindergarten registration for Norwood Public Schools and uses the form.

Is Massachusetts requiring schools to ask for pronouns?
No. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education says districts should collect gender information only when necessary and does not mandate specific registration language.

When did Norwood kindergarten registration take place?
Registration opened Jan. 12 and closed Feb. 27 for children who will be five years old by Aug. 31.

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