Armed Forces Recruiter Access

NOTIFICATION  OF ARMED FORCES RECRUITER ACCESS TO PUC HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUSES POLICY

 

This policy was created to address military access at Partnerships to Uplift Communities- Los Angeles, Partnerships to Uplift Communities- Lakeview Terrace and Partnerships to Uplift Communities- Valley schools (“PUC Schools”).  PUC Schools is committed to protecting the rights of its students as well as providing as many options and opportunities as possible. 

 

1. Military Access Rights

Under federal and state law, members of the military have specified access to school campuses.  Members of the military may:

• Access school campuses to the same extent that prospective employers and representatives of higher education may access school campuses
• For purposes of recruitment, receive names, addresses, and telephone numbers of students ages seventeen and eighteen unless the parent/guardian/eighteen-year-old student has informed the school that this information should not be released

 

It should be noted that all visitors to school campuses, including members of the military and representatives from higher education and prospective employers, must follow all PUC Schools’ rules and regulations regarding visitors.  The school principal/designee has discretion to determine whether to grant access and the degree of access to campus for any visitor.  Reasonable regulations on visitor access may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Specific time limits
• Location limits (Examples: College Center, Career fair area and Guest speaker in participating classroom)
• Limits on distributing materials (Example: Provide advance copy to site administrator prior to distribution, do not block students from accessing campus facilities while distributing, do not ask students/school employees to distribute material on campus, distribution limited to certain areas to minimize disruption to educational operations).

 

If a campus visitor, including a military representative, does not follow visitor guidelines and/or engages in conduct that is disruptive or unlawful, the visitor must leave the premises. In addition, the school principal/designee may contact the organization or supervisor of the campus visitor to report the misconduct as well as issue a letter limiting or prohibiting future access by that visitor and/or the visitor’s organization or service.

 

In addition,

• The school notifies students and families annually of information that may be provided by the school to military agencies, along with a form for parents/guardians/ eighteen-year-old students to complete to “opt out” of having this information released by the school. This form is titled ARMED FORCES RECRUITER ACCESS - INFORMATION RELEASE FORM, and will be distributed to high school students and families at the beginning of the year in the student’s high school handbook.
• Parents/guardians may also opt out by providing the school with written notification of their desire to opt out.
• Also, PUC Schools sends a separate letter ARMED FORCES RECRUITER ACCESS - INFORMATION RELEASE FORM informing families of students in 11th and 12th grades of the right to opt out of having this information released to the military. The opt-out information will be maintained in PUC’s Student Information System (PowerSchool) for the full academic year. Requests for contact information for the purpose of military recruitment are processed through the individual high school, who will access parent/student consent prior to distribution of registry information.

2. Rights and Responsibilities of Students and Families

Students and families should be aware of the following rights and responsibilities:

• No student is required by the school to meet with or speak to a recruiter;
• Families may opt out of disclosing their student’s contact information to military recruiters by returning the ARMED FORCES RECRUITER ACCESS - INFORMATION RELEASE FORM and indicating in the check box for “Do Not Permit” noting that they do not wish the military to have access to that information. Families should review the form and, if they wish to opt out, be sure to return the form to the school WITHIN 30 DAYS OF RECEIPT. The parent/guardian or eligible pupil is not required to use the ARMED FORCES RECRUITER ACCESS - INFORMATION RELEASE FORM and may alternatively provide the information, in writing, to the school;
• The school shall not release a student who is under 18 years of age from campus without written parent/guardian permission. Families should understand that any trips or transporting by military recruiters outside of school hours is not approved, authorized, or supervised by the school or school personnel and these arrangements must be made between the family and the military representative.

3. Role of the School:

• Provide the same access to military recruiters as is afforded to college representatives and prospective employers, in accordance with applicable laws and District policies;
• As with any issue that relates to the First Amendment, all school employees must maintain neutrality during work hours, particularly while in direct contact with students.

4. Role of the School:

• Follow all applicable PUC Schools guidelines for visitors;
• Obtain approval in advance from the school principal/designee before distributing any materials on campus; do not have students distribute recruitment materials or recruit other students while on campus;
• Do not transport any student under 18 years of age without written consent from the student’s parent/guardian;
• Do not bring military equipment or vehicles on campus unless the PUC Schools Superintendents and Principal has approved the request in advance;
• Do not suggest that students drop out of high school and pursue a GED as a means of recruiting;
• Obtain approval in advance from the school principal/designee before bringing any materials or prizes intended to be distributed on campus; and
• Respond to requests for information, including providing translation services where necessary.