Local schools already comply with federal act
Though now required to do so by the No Child Left Behind Act, Warren County’s school system has been releasing private student information to military recruiters since the 1970s.
“This is something we’ve been doing for awhile. There will be no need for us to change our local policy to comply,” said Director of Schools Dr. Jerry Hale, on releasing such directory information as students’ names, addresses and phone numbers to recruiters.
The student information portion of the federal act is buried deep within the new law and requires the information be given upon request so students may be more easily recruited for military service. Refusal to do so risks the loss of a school system’s federal funding.
Before the new law went into effect, it is said close to one-third of U.S. high schools refused recruiters’ requests for student information citing the inappropriateness of educational institutions to promote military service.
In releasing local directory information, as well as such information as honor roll lists and sports rosters, Hale cited the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. The law allows, among other things, schools to release such information without parental or student consent.
With the No Child Left Behind Act stipulation, schools must inform parents and eligible students (those age 18 and over) they have a right to withhold the information, as well as how to do so.
This is notification is accomplished locally, Hale said, around the first of the school year when notices are placed in all student handbooks as well as the Standard.
“If parents don’t object in writing, it’s implied we have permission to give out the information,” he said, noting that to his knowledge only one parent in the past 11 years has requested directory information be withheld.
Any parent or eligible student who does not wish personal directory information to be released to military recruiters or any other institution must make such wishes known in writing to Warren County Schools, 2548 Morrison Street, McMinnville, Tenn. 37110.