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PTSA » Legislation & Advocacy

Vote!

Make sure you are registered to vote. If you aren't, forms can be obtained at the library or you can download a form by clicking here. Students who are 17 1/2 can register.

 

***NCLB and Access to Student’s Private Information***

As part of the NCLB Act there is a provision that requires local school systems to provide access to student names, addresses, social security numbers and phone numbers. The military recruiter provision applies to secondary school students only (age 16 years or older) and to both girls and boys. This information is sent to the Department of Defense who in turn sends it to military recruiters. This is automatically done by each school system, usually in October, in order to comply with the provision. If school systems do not comply they are subject to punishment by not receiving federal funding. However, districts must provide notice to parents of the type of student information that it releases, explain that parents have the right to request that the information not be disclosed, include information on how to “opt-out” of the release of such information, and any applicable deadlines. The term “opt-out” refers to a parent or student’s ability to request their records and contact information not be disclosed. Parents have the right to “opt out” their student’s information by writing two letters, one to their Local School of Education Superintendent and the second letter to the Dept. of Defense. 

PTA has great concern about this provision and seeks to increase awareness and community sensitivity about the collection and dissemination of private information regarding minor children. PTA believes that such records should respect the rights to privacy of minor children’s information; respect the rights of parental control; and to clarify the relevance about this provision to a child's education. 

These concerns has been highlighted since the Department of Defense has created a massive database for “recruiting and other routine purposes” and has contracted with a private company to maintain this data base. This collection project is named Joint Advertising and Marketing Research Systems (JAMRS). The Department of Defense and the Pentagon has been building this database of information on more than 25 million children since NCLB was authorized in 2001. The database is updated daily and distributed monthly to the Armed Services for recruitment purposes. Additionally, parents and students can also “opt-out” of being included in this database but the information is not deleted but moved to a “suppression file,” which the Pentagon will retain, but not release, the information. 

 

 

PTA ADVOCACY EVENTS

Dates to Remember 2009-2010

For more information contact Karen Hallacy lutzie1@aol.com 

September 25, 2009, 8:30am-1:00pm GA PTA Advocacy Conference

YOU can make a difference on taxes, education funding, vouchers, school calendars, funding for technology and more. You NEED to make a difference. Any parent at Walton HS is welcome to attend this conference. Attendees will learn to be effective advocates for our children.  If you have never been to the Capitol before, this will be a great time (because Legislators are not in session) to visit and take a tour. Learn what happened in last year’s session and what hot issues are slated to be addressed in the 2010 session.

February 23, 2009, PTA Day at the Capitol – Fulton County Government Center

 This event is held during the Legislative Session. It provides Walton parents with an opportunity to meet ourLegislators (Senator Judson Hill, Reps. Matt Dollar and Sharon Cooper).  Prior to meeting our Legislators, we will hear which Bills, Resolutions, Committees, and Decision-makers are involved with education issues that may affect our students and families. We will have lunch with the legislators before returning home.

       

See below for important links and other information supported by the Georgia PTA:


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