Rochester City School District: Answer to Parents, Not Marines

<img src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/usermedia/image/1/rimcmared2.jpg" alt="nonclb" border="1" align="left" style="padding:2px;" /> <a href="http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009902190327">According to the Democrat and Chronicle</a>, the Rochester City School District is reversing a three year old policy regarding disclosure of student information to military recruiters. Charles Johnson, an attorney for RCSD, stated that a Marine Corps official called the district last week threatening federal funding consequences if student data is not turned over to the military, even for students whose parents have not authorized disclosure of their children's personal information. He plans to comply with the Marine request, regardless of what the School Board says. <br /> <br /> In 2005 the School Board made a thoughtful decision that runs counter to the <a href="http://www.defenselink.mil/prhome/docs/no_child_act.pdf">federal No Child Left Behind requirement that schools give the military extensive data on all students</a>, including contact information and details about academics and extracurricular participation. RCSD decided that this information should only be given with parental permission, ie if parents "opt in" to the data sharing program. <br /> <br /> This very appropriate "opt in" policy is now being replaced by an "opt out" policy in which parents must proactively notify the school district in writing in order to prevent their child's information from being shared with military recruiters. <br /> <br /> <b>Related Information</b>: <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/feature/display/19779/index.php">Army Recruiters at SOTA</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/feature/display/19778/index.php">An interview with Howard Eagle - activist and candidate for school board</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/feature/display/19750/index.php"> Challenging JROTC in the Public Schools</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/feature/display/3693/index.php">Antiwar Activist Harassed by Police and Security at East High School</a> <p><a href="/newsite/node/6853">Read Full Article</a></p>

<p><img src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/usermedia/image/1/rimcmared2.jpg" alt="nonclb" border="1" align="left" style="padding:2px;" /> <a href="http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009902190327">According to the Democrat and Chronicle</a>, the Rochester City School District is reversing a three year old policy regarding disclosure of student information to military recruiters. Charles Johnson, an attorney for RCSD, stated that a Marine Corps official called the district last week threatening federal funding consequences if student data is not turned over to the military, even for students whose parents have not authorized disclosure of their children's personal information. He plans to comply with the Marine request, regardless of what the School Board says. </p> <p> In 2005 the School Board made a thoughtful decision that runs counter to the <a href="http://www.defenselink.mil/prhome/docs/no_child_act.pdf">federal No Child Left Behind requirement that schools give the military extensive data on all students</a>, including contact information and details about academics and extracurricular participation. RCSD decided that this information should only be given with parental permission, ie if parents "opt in" to the data sharing program. </p> <p> This very appropriate "opt in" policy is now being replaced by an "opt out" policy in which parents must proactively notify the school district in writing in order to prevent their child's information from being shared with military recruiters. </p> <p> <b>Related Information</b>: <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/feature/display/19779/index.php">Army Recruiters at SOTA</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/feature/display/19778/index.php">An interview with Howard Eagle - activist and candidate for school board</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/feature/display/19750/index.php"> Challenging JROTC in the Public Schools</a> | <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/feature/display/3693/index.php">Antiwar Activist Harassed by Police and Security at East High School</a></p> <p><a href="/newsite/node/6853">Read Full Article</a></p>