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August 22nd, 2006
Parents of Manatee County high school students who want their childrens' names and addresses withheld from military recruiters need to notify their high school principal in writing.
The written notice must be received by Sept. 15, or within 30 days of the parents being notified of the requirement.
The need for parents to notify principals about their intention to withhold information from military recruiters is part of a change in the Manatee County School District's procedures regarding the availability of student information.
The change, which took effect at the beginning of the 2006-2007 academic year, is the result of evolving state and national laws.
“We're following state law with this change,” said Roy Larson, the District's Director of High Schools. “It is a different procedure and we're trying to get this information out to parents.”
Last year, all six of the traditional high schools in Manatee County disseminated military opt out forms to parents to sign and turn in. The district has never been required to send opt out forms to parents, however it is required to notify parents of their ability to opt out on their own by writing their child's principal.
Larson said the capital and labor costs of sending opt out forms to the district's more than 11,000 high school students played a factor in altering the procedure.
“Because we did not have this policy in place last year we felt we ought to notify parents directly, so we went a step further than required and sent out opt-out forms,” Larson said. “Sending out the forms last year actually created some problems because not all of the high schools distributed the forms the same way.”
All of the district's guidelines regarding the availability of student records can be found on pages 17-19 of the 2006-2007 Code of Student Conduct.
The Code of Student Conduct booklets, which are also published in Spanish, were given to each student in the district during the first week of school. Provisions of the Code of Student Conduct were discussed with students at their schools and each code book contains a cover sheet requiring a parent or guardian to fill out and return to make sure they are aware of the district's procedures.
The portion of the Code of Student Conduct devoted to student records also covers information pertaining to access to other forms of student information. In each instance, the parent or guardian is required to request in writing that their child be exempt from having their information made available.
In part, the student records section of the 2006-2007 Code of Student Conduct reads:
Some of the information in your school records is not confidential and may be released without your consent. This information is known as “directory information.” Directory information includes the following:
- Full legal name
- The image or likeness in pictures, videotape, film or other medium
- Dates of attendance
- Major field of study
- Participation in officially recognized sports and activities
- Height and weight of athletic team members
- Degrees and awards received
- Most recent previous educational institution attended
- Subsequent educational institution attended
- Academic work intended for publication or display
If you do not want directory information released, you must tell the principal in writing what types of directory information you do not want released. That written notice to the principal must be received not later than September 15 of each school year or within 30 days of receiving this annual notice.
Military recruiters and institutions of higher education are entitled under federal law to a list of name, addresses, and telephone numbers of high school students unless you object to such release. You must notify your principal in writing if you do not want your child's name, address and telephone number released. We will honor that request from that point forward unless you tell your principal otherwise.
For more information regarding the student records policy, please contact the school your child attends.