Opting out means that students may “opt out” of getting their contact info handed over to military recruiters by their school. The military asks school administrations to give them the phone number and addresses of all junior and senior students. The law says that if a student has a letter or form signed by his/her parent which states that the school does NOT have permission to give out their child’s contact info to recruiters, then the school must respect the parent’s decision and not give up the info.
School policy regarding Opt Out
Schools have varying policies on what forms and letters they accept. If they do have a form, it is often in the stack of papers students get in the first few days of school and it is highly overlooked. In fact, some schools do not even know their own policy, so you have to push them to find out, and if they do not have one in place then you can help create that policy. In the meantime, however, they must accept your requests in whatever form you give them.
Deadlines
Schools have different deadlines for opting out, but they are usually in the beginning of the school year, often in October. Make sure to find out the deadline as soon as possible.
Organizers can create a policy for their high school for the school board to vote on. Santa Cruz nicknamed theirs the ‘Airtight Opt-Out Plus’ resolution, which was a compilation of the most progressive policies that were currently being used across the country. Click here check out their website for the resolution and the details about their incredible work!
Here is a list (developed by the RCNV) of what to work for at your high school:
- Prominently display the opt-out information on the student Emergency Card.
- Ensure that the right to opt out from giving information to the military is not linked to other releases of information (so that the district cannot combine the release of contact information to recruiters with other agencies and thereby force students to give up receiving contacts from institutions like colleges).
- Students should have the right to opt themselves out, and either students or parents should be able opt-out at any time of the year.
- Provide contact information on the opt-out form for alternative viewpoints (such as the Resource Center for Nonviolence, the American Friends Service Committee, and the Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors, so that students can get a more balanced picture of what it means to join the military).
- Development of a packet of resources on rights to privacy from military recruiters and information about the practices of military recruiters and alternatives to military service.
- Charge the military recruiters (and all other institutional recruiters) for access to student contact information.
- Have all recruiters sign an affidavit declaring compliance with local, state, and national discrimination laws.
- Public notification of military recruiter visits to schools.
- Written correspondence to congress people and to the state School Boards Association to suggest making opt-in legal.
- Organize an Opt Out Week. For example, Click here to check out this blog!
Resources
- Leave my child alone’s Opt Out form (English & español )
- Beyond Opt Out , Counter Punch Magazine, Rick Jahnkow
- AFSC's Opt Out form (English & español)
- Military Opt out Form (PDF)
- Strategies for Operation Opt Out (PDF)
- Military recruitment in schools and DOD database information (PDF)
- Opt Out - Guide To "No Child Left Behind "
- 12 days of Opt Out
- The Military Opt In Drive
- EPIC and Over 100 Groups Seek End to DOD Recruiting Database
- Stories from the ground
- Military opt-out interest increases
- St. Paul: Limits on military recruiters?
- Students pass on Uncle Sam
- Growing Problem for Military Recruiters: Parents
- Groups Push Military Opt-out
- For youth, advice on military, and dissent
- Military Recruiters Targeting Minority Teens
- As military recruiters work the high schools, teachers and students urge a reality check
- Standing Up to Military Recruiters
- Nevada students exercise right to 'opt out'
