Grannies work to ensure OPT OUT information reaches all parents of juniors and seniors in our public high schools : keep our students safe from military recruiters

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requires that school districts automatically release the name, address and phone number of all high school juniors and seniors to  military recruiters unless parents sign an opt out or student exclusion form.  Each school district circulates this "opt out/student exclusion form" in its own way.

Granny Peace Brigade has researched the ways in which the School District of Philadelphia does this and is working with the office that
authors the letter to: ensure letter is clearly written, have letter and opt out form placed on each high school's website, have SD letter/form to parents issues in multiple languages, ensure secretaries in each high school has clear directions how to enter parent request on student database
and have opt out form post on school district website in the Parents Corner.  

In addition to working with the SD administrative office in charge of sending opt out letters home to parents, Grannies are networking with parent and student groups to get the information out to the largest number of juniors and seniors possible in a way that raises awareness as to the importance of signing the form and bringing it back to school before the end of October.

The School District of Philadelphia issues this form in late September/ early October. That’s when families of all high school juniors and seniors should be receiving a copy from their high school – usually sent home with students for parent’s signature.

Grannies expect to have the information published in the September issue of the Public School Notebook and have appeared before the School REform Commission to raise awareness of our requests including having  opt out forms attached to the student emergency cards.

If you want any support in strategizing how to work with your school district to prevent unwanted contacts by military recruiters of juniors and seniors and prevent the release of their names, phone numbers and addresses to recruiters, you can contact the Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia Opt Out Committee c/o Paula Paul- pauladance@aol.com.