Form ensures students' information kept private

Some things are family matters. The No Child Left Behind Education Act has made personal student information government business. This bill requires every high school to make available all personal student information to military recruiters and to the Pentagon's JAMRS military recruitment databases each school year.

What can you do to retain control of your student's personal information? Each school year, in the September registration packet, Bonner County high schools provide and opt-out form. On this form, you can choose to opt out of becoming part of the recruiting database and still choose to stay in the database for college and trade school information, financial aid and school activities. The usual deadline for returning this form is Sept. 30, although each school may have an alternate date.

If decisions regarding your student's personal information are something you consider a family matter, be sure you have completed and returned the opt-out form to your local high school office.

MARY TOLAND

Sagle