Name change not legal but school has decided this is ok? How and why did this happen?

[AllThingsGood]

A few years back my student (and many other students) in the Santa Cruz County, CA school district decided to change their names. The schools deemed this is fine and have changed ALL of the paperwork without approval from the parent and also without a LEGAL court certified name change. 

Can someone please explain how this is legally acceptable? 

And when the kids decide to change their name back or to a different name how will this work when all of their accreditations is under this unapproved fake name?

[jsonsiadek]

We use a preferred name that does not require a parent's approval. This name does not go to the state; we enter the student's birth name in the student's legal name fields. 

[AllThingsGood]

Thank you but that doesn't seem to be the case for us. 

[AllThingsGood]

The school changed the legal name for us based on the preference of the child, I can't figure out this is legal and how this will mess up records. Does anyone know how to get this corrected or what dept manages this within the school or is it a PowerSchool fix?