Military opt-out deadline nears

Oct. 16, 2005

MAT-SU - Parents who don't want the Mat-Su Borough School District to disclose their children's names, addresses and phone numbers to military recruiters in the 2005-2006 school year have until Oct. 21 to make their wishes known to the district, in writing.

In 2001, Congress passed two pieces of legislation that generally require public school districts receiving help under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to give military recruiters the same access to secondary school students as they provide to postsecondary institutions or prospective employers.

School districts are also generally required to provide students' names, addresses, and telephone listings to military recruiters, when requested. Each LEA that receives money under ESEA must comply with a request by a military recruiter or an institution of higher education for secondary students' names, addresses, and telephone numbers, unless a parent has &#8221opted out“ of providing such information.

Parents of high school juniors or seniors who object to the release of their child's phone numbers and directory information to military recruiters may opt out.

By law, the district is only required to release contact information for juniors and seniors. Parents who don't want the district to disclose student directory information in the 2005-06 school year must notify the district in writing via an official form.

Forms are available at www.matsuk12.us. The form is accessed by clicking the &#8221For Parents“ icon and then clicking the opt-out form on the page. Parents who have no objections to the release of directory information do not need to act.