Military Opt-Out
For Alternatives to the Military see: www.rcnv.org/rcnv/co.htm
Pajaro Valley Unified School District
MILITARY RECRUITER OPT OUT DATA
School Years: 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07
EMERGENCY CARD OPT OUT POLICY
In June 2005, the PVUSD Board of Trustees at the time enacted a new policy to give parents and students the right “opt out” from releasing the student information to military recruiters by placing the option on the student emergency card. Prior notices were being buried with dozens of other papers handed out at the beginning of the year.
You can see that many more parents and students are choosing to protect their privacy since the new policy was enacted.
PVUSD High Schools
2004-05 Emergency Card
2005-06 Emergency Card
2006-07 Emergency Card
# opt out requests received
# emergency cards issued
% of opt outs
# opt out requests received
# emergency cards issued
% of opt outs
# opt out requests received
# emergency cards issued
% of opt outs
Watsonville High
385
2486
15%
1267
2099
60%
1374
2074
66%
Aptos High
245
1591
15%
1046
1876
56%
965
1450
67%
Pajaro Valley High
188
545
34%
668
1191
56%
419
1504
28%
Renaissance High Continuation
68
159
43%
111
383
29%
106
302
35%
Academic/ Vocational Charter Institute
0
67
0%
2
55
4%
37
65
57%
New School Community Day
1
28
4%
116
116
100%
9
111
8%
Pacific Coast Charter
14
198
8%
315
350
90%
340
375
91%
DISTRICT TOTAL
191
5074
18%
3525
6070
58%
3250
5881
53%
Data current as of May 11, 2007. Obtained by the Pajaro Valley Unified School District pursuant a California Public Records Act Request
The Register-Pajaronian, March 27, 2007
OPINION
PV parents are choosing to protect student privacy
Last Monday (3/19) marked the four-year anniversary of the war in Iraq and statistics recently released by the Pajaro Valley Unified School District are showing that an increasing number of parents in the Pajaro Valley are choosing to “opt out” of having their high school child’s information released to military recruiters.
In June 2005, the former PVUSD Board of Trustees majority
approved a policy to better inform parents of their right to not have their child’s information disclosed to military recruiters by placing the right to “opt out” on the student’s emergency card.
The federal No Child Left Behind Act requires public schools to release high school students’ information to military recruiters unless a parent “opts out.” The information released included the student’s name, address, gender, age, ethnicity , Social Security number, academic achievement data and e-mail address. School districts are also required to inform parents of their right to not have their child’s information disclosed to military recruiters .
The previous information given to PVUSD parents and students by the school district was being buried with dozens of other documents distributed at the beginning of the school year. As a result, numerous Pajaro Valley parents, students, teachers and community members requested that the information be placed on the emergency cards to better inform parents.
At the time, the Los Angeles Times reported that military recruitment goals were coming up short each year and documented how military recruiters were utilizing overly aggressive and unauthorized tactics, especially in schools with predominately minority students.
Even the National PTA endorsed a federal bill, the Student Privacy Protection Act, by San Jose Congressman Mike Honda to provide greater privacy protection for students from military recruiters . The National
PTA stated, “the right to disclose personal information of minors should remain solely with their parents.”
Last year, Assemblywoman Sally Lieber (D-Mountain View) authored a bill to make the PVUSD policy a statewide requirement through Assembly Bill 1778, the Student and Family Privacy Protection Act. Although the bill won the support of the state legislature, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill last September. Nonetheless, numerous other school districts throughout the state have already enacted similar policies.
Since enacting the emergency card policy in the PVUSD, huge numbers of local parents have chosen to exercise their right to protect their child’s information from military recruiters.
At Aptos High School, the numbers of parents who chose to “opt out” from releasing their child’s information spiked from 16 percent in the 2004-05 school year to 67 percent this year.
At Watsonville High School, the number of parents who chose to “opt out” skyrocketed from 4 percent in the 2004-05 school year to 66 percent this year. Most other PVUSD high schools are also showing increased numbers of parents choosing to not disclose their child’s information to military recruiters. At Pacific Coast Charter School, 91 percent of parents opted out this school year. At the Academic/Vocational Charter Institute, 57 percent of parents opted out this school year. At the New School, the latest data was unavailable , but during the previous year in 2005-06 , 100 percent of the parents opted out. At Renaissance High School, 35 percent of parents opted out in 2006-05 , which is an increase from 29 percent in 2005-06 .
At Pajaro Valley High School, 56 percent of parents opted out during the 2005-06 school year, but dropped to 28 percent this school year. The anomalous data of PV High is disturbing and school officials should better ensure that parents are getting the right information.
But overall, the numbers clearly demonstrate that when parents are better informed of their rights, they will choose to exercise them.
At a time of growing concern and dismay by the American public about the war in Iraq and its increasing costs in lives and dollars, local parents are saying loud and clear that they want to protect their child’s privacy from military recruiters .
—
Luis Alejo is a local attorney and the director of the Student Empowerment Project. The opinions of columnists are not necessarily those of the Register-Pajaronian .
This guest column was also published in the Santa Cruz Sentinel at:
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2007/April/01/edit/stories/03edit.htm
The Watsonville Register-Pajaronian, March 22, 2007
Military recruiters face opposition
Parents choose to ‘opt-out’ of providing personal information
By AMY LARSON OF THE REGISTER-PAJARONIAN
Anti-military recruitment protesters wave signs and chant slogans in front of the Veterans Memorial Building during a Senior Career Day Fair for Watsonville High students.
With the United States military involved in major military operations in the Middle East, an increasing number of parents are blocking public schools from granting military recruiters access to students’ personal
information.
Under the No Child Left Behind Act, all public high schools are required to release students’ information to U. S. military recruiters.
In July 2005, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District trustees voted 4-3 in favor of a resolution to increase parents’ awareness that they have the right to prevent their child’s information from being released to the military.
An option to keep student information confidential was placed on each high school student’s emergency card, called an “opt-out.” Emergency cards are sent home to parents every year.
In 2004, 4 percent of parents at Watsonville High School and 16 percent of Aptos High parents opted-out .
In 2006, 66 percent of WHS students and 56 percent of AHS students’ information was no longer handed over to the military.
At Pacific Coast Charter School, more than 90 percent of parents opted out in 2006.
“Parents are saying loud and clear that they do not want their child’s information released to military recruiters,” said local activist and attorney Luis Alejo.
Teacher Pamela Sexton said the increase in opt-outs was also due to “growing dismay and disillusionment about the war in Iraq and all of its costs.”
“A far better system would be opt-in ,” Sexton said. “Some families may not check the opt-out box because of fear of hidden consequences .”
Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, D-Mountain View, introduced a bill for the state to adopt the PVUSD policy through The Student and Family Privacy Protection Act of 2006, which passed the State Assembly and the Senate, but was later vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Opt-outs decreased at Pajaro Valley High School from 56 percent to 28 percent within the last two years.
Army Sgt. Jose Garza said the only recruiting he does at the high schools is occasionally setting up an information booth on campus and making recruitment calls to students’ homes.
“I’m not going out and targeting specific kids,” Garza said. “People think I’m trying to take their kids away and send them to war.
“We motivate kids to finish high school and keep them off the streets,” Garza said. “There are not many jobs around Watsonville. I’m trying to give kids opportunities they have never been able to get.”
Serving in the U. S. Army gives young people job training, up to $72,900 toward a college education , adventure, an enlistment bonus up to $40,000 and the pride of serving your country, said Army Sgt. First
Class Ray Ward.
“The army is not a last resort, it’s a stepping stone,” Garza added .
In Santa Cruz County, 62 women and men were recruited into the Army in 2006, an increase from 21 in 2005.
This month, President Bush approved sending 8,200 more troops to Iraq and Afghanistan - on top of the 21,500 ordered to Iraq in January’s surge.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Peter Pace told the Washington Post that he recommends 92,000 more soldiers be permanently added to the Marine Corps and the Army.
Without increasing reserves, America’s national security will be in a weak position, Pace said. The military would be unable to respond if a major security threat broke out in other unstable parts of the world.
Ward said he has not felt more pressure to find recruits since Bush’s troop surge.
For Alternatives to the Military see: www.rcnv.org/rcnv/co.htm
Pajaro Valley Unified School District
MILITARY RECRUITER OPT OUT DATA
School Years: 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07
EMERGENCY CARD OPT OUT POLICY
In June 2005, the PVUSD Board of Trustees at the time enacted a new policy to give parents and students the right “opt out” from releasing the student information to military recruiters by placing the option on the student emergency card. Prior notices were being buried with dozens of other papers handed out at the beginning of the year.
You can see that many more parents and students are choosing to protect their privacy since the new policy was enacted.
|
PVUSD High Schools |
2004-05 Emergency Card | 2005-06 Emergency Card | 2006-07 Emergency Card | ||||||
| # opt out requests received | # emergency cards issued | % of opt outs | # opt out requests received | # emergency cards issued | % of opt outs | # opt out requests received | # emergency cards issued | % of opt outs | |
| Watsonville High | 385 | 2486 | 15% | 1267 | 2099 | 60% | 1374 | 2074 | 66% |
| Aptos High | 245 | 1591 | 15% | 1046 | 1876 | 56% | 965 | 1450 | 67% |
| Pajaro Valley High | 188 | 545 | 34% | 668 | 1191 | 56% | 419 | 1504 | 28% |
| Renaissance High Continuation | 68 | 159 | 43% | 111 | 383 | 29% | 106 | 302 | 35% |
| Academic/ Vocational Charter Institute | 0 | 67 | 0% | 2 | 55 | 4% | 37 | 65 | 57% |
| New School Community Day | 1 | 28 | 4% | 116 | 116 | 100% | 9 | 111 | 8% |
| Pacific Coast Charter | 14 | 198 | 8% | 315 | 350 | 90% | 340 | 375 | 91% |
| DISTRICT TOTAL | 191 | 5074 | 18% | 3525 | 6070 | 58% | 3250 | 5881 | 53% |
Data current as of May 11, 2007. Obtained by the Pajaro Valley Unified School District pursuant a California Public Records Act Request
The Register-Pajaronian, March 27, 2007
OPINION
PV parents are choosing to protect student privacy
Last Monday (3/19) marked the four-year anniversary of the war in Iraq and statistics recently released by the Pajaro Valley Unified School District are showing that an increasing number of parents in the Pajaro Valley are choosing to “opt out” of having their high school child’s information released to military recruiters.
In June 2005, the former PVUSD Board of Trustees majority
approved a policy to better inform parents of their right to not have their child’s information disclosed to military recruiters by placing the right to “opt out” on the student’s emergency card.
The federal No Child Left Behind Act requires public schools to release high school students’ information to military recruiters unless a parent “opts out.” The information released included the student’s name, address, gender, age, ethnicity , Social Security number, academic achievement data and e-mail address. School districts are also required to inform parents of their right to not have their child’s information disclosed to military recruiters .
The previous information given to PVUSD parents and students by the school district was being buried with dozens of other documents distributed at the beginning of the school year. As a result, numerous Pajaro Valley parents, students, teachers and community members requested that the information be placed on the emergency cards to better inform parents.
At the time, the Los Angeles Times reported that military recruitment goals were coming up short each year and documented how military recruiters were utilizing overly aggressive and unauthorized tactics, especially in schools with predominately minority students.
Even the National PTA endorsed a federal bill, the Student Privacy Protection Act, by San Jose Congressman Mike Honda to provide greater privacy protection for students from military recruiters . The National
PTA stated, “the right to disclose personal information of minors should remain solely with their parents.”
Last year, Assemblywoman Sally Lieber (D-Mountain View) authored a bill to make the PVUSD policy a statewide requirement through Assembly Bill 1778, the Student and Family Privacy Protection Act. Although the bill won the support of the state legislature, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill last September. Nonetheless, numerous other school districts throughout the state have already enacted similar policies.
Since enacting the emergency card policy in the PVUSD, huge numbers of local parents have chosen to exercise their right to protect their child’s information from military recruiters.
At Aptos High School, the numbers of parents who chose to “opt out” from releasing their child’s information spiked from 16 percent in the 2004-05 school year to 67 percent this year.
At Watsonville High School, the number of parents who chose to “opt out” skyrocketed from 4 percent in the 2004-05 school year to 66 percent this year. Most other PVUSD high schools are also showing increased numbers of parents choosing to not disclose their child’s information to military recruiters. At Pacific Coast Charter School, 91 percent of parents opted out this school year. At the Academic/Vocational Charter Institute, 57 percent of parents opted out this school year. At the New School, the latest data was unavailable , but during the previous year in 2005-06 , 100 percent of the parents opted out. At Renaissance High School, 35 percent of parents opted out in 2006-05 , which is an increase from 29 percent in 2005-06 .
At Pajaro Valley High School, 56 percent of parents opted out during the 2005-06 school year, but dropped to 28 percent this school year. The anomalous data of PV High is disturbing and school officials should better ensure that parents are getting the right information.
But overall, the numbers clearly demonstrate that when parents are better informed of their rights, they will choose to exercise them.
At a time of growing concern and dismay by the American public about the war in Iraq and its increasing costs in lives and dollars, local parents are saying loud and clear that they want to protect their child’s privacy from military recruiters .
—
Luis Alejo is a local attorney and the director of the Student Empowerment Project. The opinions of columnists are not necessarily those of the Register-Pajaronian .
This guest column was also published in the Santa Cruz Sentinel at:
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2007/April/01/edit/stories/03edit.htm
The Watsonville Register-Pajaronian, March 22, 2007
Military recruiters face opposition
Parents choose to ‘opt-out’ of providing personal information
By AMY LARSON OF THE REGISTER-PAJARONIAN
Anti-military recruitment protesters wave signs and chant slogans in front of the Veterans Memorial Building during a Senior Career Day Fair for Watsonville High students.
With the United States military involved in major military operations in the Middle East, an increasing number of parents are blocking public schools from granting military recruiters access to students’ personal
information.
Under the No Child Left Behind Act, all public high schools are required to release students’ information to U. S. military recruiters.
In July 2005, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District trustees voted 4-3 in favor of a resolution to increase parents’ awareness that they have the right to prevent their child’s information from being released to the military.
An option to keep student information confidential was placed on each high school student’s emergency card, called an “opt-out.” Emergency cards are sent home to parents every year.
In 2004, 4 percent of parents at Watsonville High School and 16 percent of Aptos High parents opted-out .
In 2006, 66 percent of WHS students and 56 percent of AHS students’ information was no longer handed over to the military.
At Pacific Coast Charter School, more than 90 percent of parents opted out in 2006.
“Parents are saying loud and clear that they do not want their child’s information released to military recruiters,” said local activist and attorney Luis Alejo.
Teacher Pamela Sexton said the increase in opt-outs was also due to “growing dismay and disillusionment about the war in Iraq and all of its costs.”
“A far better system would be opt-in ,” Sexton said. “Some families may not check the opt-out box because of fear of hidden consequences .”
Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, D-Mountain View, introduced a bill for the state to adopt the PVUSD policy through The Student and Family Privacy Protection Act of 2006, which passed the State Assembly and the Senate, but was later vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Opt-outs decreased at Pajaro Valley High School from 56 percent to 28 percent within the last two years.
Army Sgt. Jose Garza said the only recruiting he does at the high schools is occasionally setting up an information booth on campus and making recruitment calls to students’ homes.
“I’m not going out and targeting specific kids,” Garza said. “People think I’m trying to take their kids away and send them to war.
“We motivate kids to finish high school and keep them off the streets,” Garza said. “There are not many jobs around Watsonville. I’m trying to give kids opportunities they have never been able to get.”
Serving in the U. S. Army gives young people job training, up to $72,900 toward a college education , adventure, an enlistment bonus up to $40,000 and the pride of serving your country, said Army Sgt. First
Class Ray Ward.
“The army is not a last resort, it’s a stepping stone,” Garza added .
In Santa Cruz County, 62 women and men were recruited into the Army in 2006, an increase from 21 in 2005.
This month, President Bush approved sending 8,200 more troops to Iraq and Afghanistan - on top of the 21,500 ordered to Iraq in January’s surge.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Peter Pace told the Washington Post that he recommends 92,000 more soldiers be permanently added to the Marine Corps and the Army.
Without increasing reserves, America’s national security will be in a weak position, Pace said. The military would be unable to respond if a major security threat broke out in other unstable parts of the world.
Ward said he has not felt more pressure to find recruits since Bush’s troop surge.
Parents choose to ‘opt-out’ of providing personal information
By AMY LARSON OF THE REGISTER-PAJARONIAN
Anti-military recruitment protesters wave signs and chant slogans in front of the Veterans Memorial Building during a Senior Career Day Fair for Watsonville High students.
With the United States military involved in major military operations in the Middle East, an increasing number of parents are blocking public schools from granting military recruiters access to students’ personal
information.
Under the No Child Left Behind Act, all public high schools are required to release students’ information to U. S. military recruiters.
In July 2005, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District trustees voted 4-3 in favor of a resolution to increase parents’ awareness that they have the right to prevent their child’s information from being released to the military.
An option to keep student information confidential was placed on each high school student’s emergency card, called an “opt-out.” Emergency cards are sent home to parents every year.
In 2004, 4 percent of parents at Watsonville High School and 16 percent of Aptos High parents opted-out .
In 2006, 66 percent of WHS students and 56 percent of AHS students’ information was no longer handed over to the military.
At Pacific Coast Charter School, more than 90 percent of parents opted out in 2006.
“Parents are saying loud and clear that they do not want their child’s information released to military recruiters,” said local activist and attorney Luis Alejo.
Teacher Pamela Sexton said the increase in opt-outs was also due to “growing dismay and disillusionment about the war in Iraq and all of its costs.”
“A far better system would be opt-in ,” Sexton said. “Some families may not check the opt-out box because of fear of hidden consequences .”
Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, D-Mountain View, introduced a bill for the state to adopt the PVUSD policy through The Student and Family Privacy Protection Act of 2006, which passed the State Assembly and the Senate, but was later vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Opt-outs decreased at Pajaro Valley High School from 56 percent to 28 percent within the last two years.
Army Sgt. Jose Garza said the only recruiting he does at the high schools is occasionally setting up an information booth on campus and making recruitment calls to students’ homes.
“I’m not going out and targeting specific kids,” Garza said. “People think I’m trying to take their kids away and send them to war.
“We motivate kids to finish high school and keep them off the streets,” Garza said. “There are not many jobs around Watsonville. I’m trying to give kids opportunities they have never been able to get.”
Serving in the U. S. Army gives young people job training, up to $72,900 toward a college education , adventure, an enlistment bonus up to $40,000 and the pride of serving your country, said Army Sgt. First
Class Ray Ward.
“The army is not a last resort, it’s a stepping stone,” Garza added .
In Santa Cruz County, 62 women and men were recruited into the Army in 2006, an increase from 21 in 2005.
This month, President Bush approved sending 8,200 more troops to Iraq and Afghanistan - on top of the 21,500 ordered to Iraq in January’s surge.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Peter Pace told the Washington Post that he recommends 92,000 more soldiers be permanently added to the Marine Corps and the Army.
Without increasing reserves, America’s national security will be in a weak position, Pace said. The military would be unable to respond if a major security threat broke out in other unstable parts of the world.
Ward said he has not felt more pressure to find recruits since Bush’s troop surge.