Each school must develop a plan for how this regulation will be implemented. This plan is to be included in the School & Youth Development Consolidated Plan.

Below is a template which can be downloaded in Word from the link at the bottom of this page. It includes options which range from the minimum a school must do to be in compliance with the regulation to the strictest interpretation which allows schools the greatest control over recruitment activities on their campuses. You can “mix and match” as is most appropriate to the needs of your school community.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact us.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

1. Between September 17 and October 3 of each school year, opt-out  forms and
    letters of explanation will be mailed to parents. Whenever possible, letters will
    be sent in the parents' home language.

Note: . The DoE provides opt out materials 8 languages at
http://schools.nyc.gov/StudentSupport/StudentAttendance/MilitaryOptOutLetters/default.htm. Schools may choose to use the opt out forms and letters as supplied by the DoE,  or may create one that they feel is most appropriate to the needs of their student body. However, NCLB does not allow forms which are exclusively “opt in” (ie: Lists released to military recruiters that would only contain students who have affirmatively requested to be included).

For examples of alternative opt out forms see: (LINK TO SAMPLE OPT OUT FORMS COMING SOON)

2. These materials will be provided to parents of new students ________________(How? ie: in person during the enrollment process, mailed home, both?)

3. ____________________________ (fill in name) will be available to assist parents and answer any questions they may have.

OPTIONAL BUT RECOMMENDED:

An FAQ on opting out will be included in the materials sent to parents. [For a sample opt-out FAQ click here.]

Opt out forms will also be made available to parents ______ (For example: in a designated office, during open school day/evening, during PTA meetings and/or other events).
       
Opt out forms will be included with the emergency contact form (blue card).

Note: * All 9-12th grade students have the right to sign their own opt out forms. Parental signatures are NOT required.

* The regulation specifically mandates that the school is responsible for  “ensuring that students understand their opt-out rights and receive opt-out forms.”  Merely passing them out without adequate explanation DOES NOT meet the requirements of this regulation. Therefore it is recommended that all school staff who distribute opt out forms be provided with an FAQ so that they can answer students' questions. A sample FAQ is available here.

* Students can opt out of having their information released to EITHER the military OR institutions of higher learning or both or neither.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

1. Before the end of the first week of October of each school year, opt out letters and forms will be distributed and explained to all 9-12 grade students. The forms will be distributed ________________ (How? For example: during advisory, during attendance period, during registration etc.?)  Whenever possible, letters will be made available n the students' home language, as available at  http://schools.nyc.gov/StudentSupport/StudentAttendance/MilitaryOptOutLetters/default.htm

2. The deadline for returning forms is October ________ [Fill in date]. Although students can opt out at any time, 11th and 12th graders will be informed that this is the deadline for ensuring that their names are removed from the list  that will be distributed to the military in early November.

3. Those who choose to opt out will be encouraged to sign and return the forms immediately to prevent them from being lost or forgotten  Those who do not return the forms on the spot will be told the deadline for returning forms and where to return them. Forms  will be available from and can be returned to ___________________________ [insert name/room number]

4. These materials will be provided to new students during the enrollment process. ____________________________ [Describe how]

5. ____________________________ [fill in name] will be available to assist students and answer any questions they may have.

6.  Parents and students will be informed of their right to opt out at any time during the student's school career. ______________________________ (How? ie: included in opt out letters, FAQ's etc.)

OPTIONAL BUT RECOMMENDED:

Students will be reminded of their right to opt out and the deadline for returning them by ____________________________ (How? ie: announcements over the public address system,  announcements in class or advisory, class notices posted in classrooms, hallways, etc.?)

The principal/designee will distribute opt-out letters to students and parents at additional times during the school year. ___________________________ (State here how and when forms will be distributed in addition to the required distribution at the beginning of each school year)

Parents and students who choose NOT to opt out may be encouraged to return the forms indicating that they have read them and have choosen NOT to opt out.

Note:  This section of the regulation states:

    Each principal of a school with grades 9, 10, 11, and/or 12 must designate a staff member
    to serve as a point person on issues relating to military recruitment and requests for
    information from institutions of higher learning who can provide guidance to students
    who request it regarding these issues.

The point person must be someone who can “provide guidance” on issues related to military recruitment. This may or may not be the same person  designated to “oversee the plan” (Section 1. paragraph J) who's responsibilities are more administrative. The assignment of this position could be made either by the principal or the principal's designee who is overseeing the implementation of the school plan.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

1. _____________________________ [Insert name, title & contact information] is the point person designated to address issues relating to military recruitment and requests for information from institutions of higher learning. This point person will also provide guidance on issues relating to military recruitment

2. The principal/designee will ensure that the point person is prepared to answer questions pertaining to provide guidance on issues relating to military recruitment by ______________________ (How? ie: What training, resources, materials etc. will be provided to ensure that the point person has access to current, accurate information on the pros and cons of military service and is prepared to help students make informed decisions?)

[Note:  The point person should be equipped to answer questions about military benefits and the requirements to qualify for them, including college money, immigration status and child custody and other options for meeting post high school goals. S/he should be prepared to help students understand the enlistment contract and to assist students who decide to withdraw after enlisting in the Delayed Entry Program. Links to materials and training will soon be available here.]

3. School staff, students and parents will be informed that ______________________  [Insert name, title and contact information of point person] is available to provide guidance on issues of military recruitment and requests for information from institutions of higher learning. _______________________ (How will they be informed? ie: This information will be included in the written opt out materials, announced during the distribution of opt out forms, posted in guidance offices/halls/administrative offices/classrooms, included in the student orientation packet, announced at staff meetings and/or announced over the public address system ________ [insert number] times a year)

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

1. ______________________________ [insert name, title & contact information] will enter the names of the students who have opted out and/or whose parents have opted them out into the ATS system, using the ATS function Update Student Codes (UPCO). The student opt-out code that has been selected will remain in ATS unless the student and/or parent choose to change it.

2. The names of Juniors and Seniors who have opted out will be entered by ________________ [insert date in late October/first week of November] to ensure that they are not included in the lists that will be distributed centrally by the DoE in early November.  All other opt out requests will be entered in the ATS system as they are received throughout the school year.

3. The school WILL NOT provide student information to military recruiters and will inform military recruiters who directly request such information to contact their supervising officers in regard to the protocol for obtaining this information directly from the Department of Education.

4. The School will continue to provide student directory information to colleges for 11th and 12th grade students who have not opted out of having their names released to institutions of higher education. In order to generate this information, we will use the ROPO Report on ATS.

5. Any further questions or concerns pertaining to military recruiters will be directed to Lilian Garelick, Office of School and Youth Development, Director of Mandated Responsibilities.

Note:  NCLB requires schools to give military recruiters “the same access to secondary school students as is provided generally to post secondary educational institutions or to prospective employers of those students.”  The Chancellor's Memo of 1/23/07 states that “Although the law requires you to give military recruiters the same access to students as you give other educational institutions and prospective employers, you should not give them any special privileges.”

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

1. In accordance with our building safety plan, all recruiters (military, college, employment) will make appointments and sign in and out like any other visitor. School security will be instructed to enforce this. This rule and the ones that follow also apply to alumni who have joined the military and visit the school in uniform or for the purpose of recruiting.

OPTIONAL BUT RECOMMENDED:

1a. All recruiters will sign in and out on a separate “Recruiter” page of the visitor log to make it easy to document equal access.


2. Recruiters will be directed to ____________________ [insert designated location] and expected to remain there. No visitor will be given unfettered access to students in classrooms, cafeterias, gyms, or other areas of the school building.

OPTIONAL BUT RECOMMENDED:

2a. While on school property, recruiters will be supervised by _____________[insert name & title]


3. Information about opportunities in the military will be posted in the same manner, quantity and areas that other educational and career information is posted.

OPTIONAL BUT RECOMMENDED:

3a. All recruiting materials will be reviewed for accuracy.

3b. Information about alternatives to the military and/or “truth in recruiting” will be posted in the same manner, quantity and areas that other educational and career information is posted.

3c. All recruiters (military, college, employment) will be limited to ______ visits per year/semester.

Or

Each branch of the military will be treated as a separate institution, just as each college, university, employer etc. is treated as a separate entity, and given the same access. If a recruiter for each college comes once or twice a year, then each branch of the military may also send a recruiter once or twice a year. Conversely, if each college only sends a representative once or twice a year, then each branch of the military may only send a recruiter once or twice a year as well.
 
[Note: Even if a school has a recruiter from a DIFFERENT college every week, this does not entitle the military to have a recruiter from the SAME branch every week.]

3d. Representatives of organizations providing alternatives to the military and/or “truth in recruiting” will be given access equal to that of military recruiters.


4. Class time will not be used for recruiting. Staff will be informed and reminded of this rule ___________ [How? ie: in staff meetings, memos?]

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

1. _____________________ [insert name. title & contact information] has been designated to  handle all concerns or complaints about recruiters or violations of this regulation. Students, parents and school staff  will be informed of this _____________ [How? ie included in opt out information, posted in the guidance office, announced over PA, in advisory/attendance period, staff meetings, etc.?]  


NOT REQUIRED BUT STRONGLY RECOMMENDED:

2. If the complaint or concern involves the actions or behavior of a recruiter, the designee will inform the principal, file a report with Lilian Garelick, Office of School and Youth Development, Director of Mandated Responsibilities and the recruiting commander of the recruiter in question.  If necessary, S/he will follow up with both the DoE and recruiting command if the issue remains unresolved.

3. If a particular recruiter is does not abide by these rules or is inappropriate or disruptive to the school environment, their supervisor will be informed that this individual is barred from school grounds and that an alternate recruiter may be sent in their place. The DoE will be informed if this step is taken so that other schools can be alerted to concerns about this recruiter's presence in schools.

4. If the complaint or concern involves a violation of this regulation, the designee will inform the principal. If the school is not brought into compliance with this regulation, the designee must file a report with Lilian Garelick, Office of School and Youth Development, Director of Mandated Responsibilities.


NOT REQUIRED BUT STRONGLY RECOMMENDED:

RETALIATION

1. Appropriate action will be taken against any member of the school community who retaliates against a student, teacher, or school employee who reports an incident of alleged recruiter misconduct or a violation of this regulation or who participates or assists in an investigation relating to such a report.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

EITHER:

If our school administers or allows the administration of the Armed Services Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) _______________________ (insert name of principal or designee) will complete the form required to select “OPTION 8” indicating that student scores are to be made available to the student and school staff  but kept private from military recruiters. This is mandatory in all cases.

It will be made clear to students that this test is voluntary.

If  students wish to take the ASVAB for the purpose of enlisting in the military, they will be directed to make arrangements with their recruiter to take the exam at the local recruiting station or Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) so that their score can be used to determine their eligibility and the Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) or job titles open to them.

OR

Our school does not administer or allow the administration of the Armed Services Aptitude Battery (ASVAB).

If  students wish to take the ASVAB for the purpose of enlisting in the military, they will be directed to make arrangements with their recruiter to take the exam at the local recruiting station or Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) so that their score can be used to determine their eligibility and the Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) or job titles open to them.

INQUIRIES

Inquiries pertaining to this regulation will be addressed to:

    Lilian Garelick,
    Director of Mandated Responsibilities:  
    Office of School and Youth Development
    N.Y.C. Department of Education
    52 Chambers Street - Room 218
    New York, NY 10007

e-mail: lgareli@schools.nyc.gov or
telephone: 212-374-6095