IT'S SPRING: Prepare for fall Opt-Out campaigns

Fall is an excellent time for an opt-out campaign at your school, but you need to lay the groundwork.

The No Child Left Behind Act, while guaranteeing military recruiter access to schools and students, also requires that parents be notified of the provision to withhold their child's contact information from the list that schools must send to the military.

You can try to participate in fall registration or orientation to promote the opt-out forms to parents and students. This can be a good way to alert people to the privacy issues and the ways in which recruiters have unfair access to students.

Spring is the best time to contact your school's principal or counselor. Remind them of their responsibility to notify parents, and ask how you can help people become aware of the opt-out provision. Find out if the school has a form and how easy it is to request and submit one. Most schools shy away from anything "political" so if you stick to the idea of creating awareness & providing information you will have a better chance of being able to set up a display.

Meet with us June 11 to get started, or go to our Opt-Out page. Contact TAME at info@tamewisconsin.org or call (608) 250-9240 for assistance.

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