We received the following request from Studentprivacy.org.

Commissioner MaryEllen Elia, NY Department of Education, will be holding Town Hall Forums throughout NYS from 5/2-6/15/2018.  One topic she will be addressing is Student Privacy Rights.

The New York Coalition to Protect Student Privacy advocates for student privacy rights when they take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test. The ASVAB, designed by the Department of Defense, is offered free to high school districts throughout New York as a voluntary Career Exploration Program. 10th, 11th & 12th graders are eligible to take the test.The test results include student’s detailed personal information and academic data.

What is disturbing and unacceptable is that this information is forwarded to the Department of Defense for storage on their database: the Joint Advertising and Marketing Research System (JAMRS) to be released to military recruiters for profiling, outreach, and potential enlistment. Because it is a Department Of Defense document, student personal data is not protected by the Family Education rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) or the NY Parents Bill of Rights.

Now is the time for NY Dept. for Ed Commissioner Elia to issue a Directive requiring test administrators to select Release Option 8 which is provided on each student’s ASVAB form.

Release Option 8: “Access to student test information is not provided to recruiting services”

Parents have reported phone calls or letters to their children from recruiters.  It’s a frightening experience for many who do not want their childrem caught up in a meeting or discussion focused on potential enlistment.

“My son’s future is to further his education in public schools, to graduate, and be ready for college or vocational training.’’  Another mother asked, “How did the recruiter get my child’s contact information?” The answer: He had taken the ASVAB and all her son’s personal data was easily retrieved.

Here’s where you come in: The Commissioner has asked parents and friends to submit a comment and has provided a link to do so.  It’s our responsibility to stop the release of students’ data to recruiters.  A brief comment can make a difference, and it’s up to all of us to be heard.

In addition to participating in the public forums, individuals may also submit written comments electronically between May 2 and June 18 to PrivacyForumComment@nysed.gov.

NYC Protect Student Privacy would appreciate your forwarding this information and comment opportunity to your network and friends, families and students. Thank you.

Barbara Harris
Director New York Coalition to Protect Student Privacy, www.student privacy.org
Granny Peace Brigade

The complete schedule of public forums is available here.