As a new school year begins, the ACLU-Vermont is reminding parents of their right to control the release of student information to military recruiters, as well as to colleges.
Personal information belongs to students and their parents. Except for some narrow exceptions, families have the right to control who gets the information and for what purpose. We?ve written all high schools to ask them to respect this privacy right and to ensure that families know how to exercise it.
This ?opt-out? right is not an all-or-nothing proposition. Families may bar disclosure of student information to military recruiters, while giving colleges and universities access to the information.
The Legislature heard this spring that schools could be doing more to inform parents of this right. Parents may need to take the initiative to contact their child?s school and state ? in writing ? to whom they do not want information released.
If students already on military recruitment lists want their name removed, they can write to the following address: Joint Advertising, Market Research and Studies, ?Attention: Opt Out?, 4040 North Fairfax Drive Suite 200, Arlington, VA 22203-1613. You need to provide your name, address, telephone number, and date of birth; state that you want your name removed from recruitment lists.
It?s important that students be aware of the range of post-graduation opportunities available to them. But it?s also important that they be able to explore opportunities on their own terms, with their rights to privacy protected.
Visit the "Issues" section of our Web site for more information on military recruitment lists and privacy rights.
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