September 30 deadline for high school students to opt out of receiving military recruiting materials

BOSTON - The Boston Public Schools (BPS) reminds high school students and their families that any student who wishes to opt out of receiving recruitment materials from the U.S. military during the upcoming school year must do so in writing by Friday, September 30.

Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, public school districts are required by law to release the names, addresses and telephone numbers of high school students to U.S. military and higher education recruiters. Branches of the military and colleges may then use this information to contact students directly. However, every student or parent has the right to request in writing that this information not be released.

The parent/student signature section of the annual Guide to the Boston Public Schools for Families and Students, issued to every family at the start of the school year, offers high school students and their families the option of not releasing their contact information for these purposes. Students who submit these signed forms to their high school by Friday, September 30, will be omitted from lists that the district provides to recruiters in October.

Students and families may direct questions about this matter to the Headmaster or guidance counselor at their school.

To download the complete Guide, visit http://www.bostonpublicschools.org/Guide.pdf. The military recruitment opt-out provision is printed on page 34.