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April 12, 2008
Help protect students from military recruiters
Sample Support Letter
Dear Friend of FCL,
FCL has been working closely with Assembly Member Sally Lieber (D-Mountain View), the Committee Opposed to Militarism and the Draft and the Coalition Against Militarism In Our Schools to pass Assembly Bill 2994, which would inform parents and students of their rights to opt out from having pupil's contact information and Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test results made available to military recruiters.
Background: Though federal law allows parents and students to opt out from providing a pupil's contact information from being given to military recruiters and though state law expresses the Legislature's intent that school districts, in the interest of pupil confidentiality, minimize the release of student telephone numbers without express parental consent, few school employees, parents or students know that they may opt out.
The ASVAB test is another tool used by military recruiters to obtain access to students. Though the No Child Left Behind Act allows for students to take the ASVAB test without having their test results used for recruiting purposes ("Option 8"), few parents or students are aware that federal law affords them this choice. A brochure describing the ASVAB test that is widely distributed to students makes no reference to the fact that test results (along with students' contact information) may be used for recruiting purposes or that students have the right to take the test without having their test results used for recruiting purposes.
As a result, pupil contact information and ASVAB test results (which contains information of a highly personal nature) is routinely given to military personnel for recruiting purposes without the consent of parents or students.
Analysis: While opponents have sought to dissuade legislators from districts with large numbers of military retirees by framing AB 2294 as "anti-military," they routinely ignore concerns about privacy and informed consent. Regardless of one's position on the War in Iraq, we think everyone would agree that exercising options requires knowledge of the full range choices available to them. In sum, choice that is not informed, is not choice. Consent that is not informed, is not consent.
AB 2994 notifies parents and students that federal law allows them to opt out from having student's contact information made available to military recruiters on the emergency information request forms that are sent home with students at the beginning of the school year. Parents, guardians and students would be able to designate that their children's contact information not be released to military recruiters on the emergency information request forms.
The legislation allows the Department of Defense to administer the ASVAB test with the understanding that test results and pupil information cannot be used for recruiting purposes ("Option 8") without the consent of students, parents or guardians.
Earlier this week AB 2994 passed the Assembly Education Committee on a party line vote. It now moves to the Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee where its fate is uncertain. The bill will be heard in the Assembly Veteran's Affairs Committee on April 29, 2008. This is where your help is needed.
TAKE ACTION NOW!
Please contact Assembly Member Mary Salas, Chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee, and tell her that you support the right of parents and students to opt out from having pupil's contact information and ASVAB test results used for military recruiting without heir consent. (A sample support letter can be found here.)
Send letters of support and make phone calls to:
Assembly Member Mary Salas
Chair, Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee
1020 N St., Room 389
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 319-2079
Fax: (916) 319-3551
It is also extremely import that Assembly Member Salas and Members of the Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee hear from constituents in their districts. Below is the district office contact information for Members of the Committee.
Assembly Member Mary Salas
678 Third Avenue
Suite 105
Chula Vista, CA 91910
Phone: (619) 409-7979
Fax: (619) 409-9270
Assembly Member Jim Beall
100 Paseo De San Antonio
Suite 300
San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: (408) 282-8920
Fax: (408) 282-8927
Assembly Member Wilmer Amina Carter
335 N Riverside Avenue
Rialto, CA 92376
Phone: (909) 820-5008
Fax: (909) 820-5098
Assembly Member Paul Cook
34932 Yucaipa Boulevard
Yucaipa, CA 92399
Phone: (909) 790-4196
Fax: (909) 790-0479
Assembly Member Chuck Devore
3 Park Plaza
Suite 275
Irvine, CA 92614
Phone: (949) 863-7070
Fax: (949) 863-9337
Assembly Member Ted W. Lieu
500 Center Street
El Segundo, CA 90245
Phone: (310) 615-3515
Fax: (310) 615-3520
Assembly Member Sharon Runner
747 West Lancaster Boulevard
Lancaster, CA 93534
Phone: (661) 723-3368
Fax: (661) 723-6307
Assembly Member Lori Saldana
1557 Columbia Street
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 645-3090
Fax: (619) 645-3094
Assembly Member Lois Wolk
555 Mason Street
Suite 275
Vacaville, CA 95688
Phone: (707) 455-8025
Fax: (707) 455-0490
Sincerely yours,
Jim Lindburg
Legislative Advocate
Friends Committee on Legislation
717 K St., Suite 500-B
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 443-3734
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