Supporting Military Career Pathways and Military Recruiters

Ohio schools honor and appreciate those serving in the military, military veterans, and military families. The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, in partnership with schools and our communities, celebrates schools for their support of military families each year with the Purple Star Designation. Schools earn the Purple Star Award by conducting activities that support for our armed forces, their families, and students connected to the military.
 
Ohio recognizes military service as a meaningful post-high school pathway for students who wish to enlist and proudly celebrates students who commit to serve each year at the All-Ohio U.S. Armed Forces Career Commitment Celebration. Schools can partner with military representatives to ensure that students have as much information as possible about this potential career path. With Ohio’s new graduation requirements for the class of 2023 and beyond, students have access to many pathways to graduation and beyond, including military enlistment. Future Forward Ohio, Ohio’s strategic priorities for education, calls for preparing students to be ready for the workforce, including military service. Military recruiters are a valuable resource to help students navigate questions and available information about military service.
 
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Section 8528 outlines provisions that give military recruiters the same access to secondary school students as recruiters from postsecondary institutions or prospective employers. The United States Department of Education’s Dear Colleague Letter Regarding Military Recruiter Provisions of ESEA describes the following requirements for each school and district that receives funds under ESEA:
 
  • Comply with a request by a military recruiter for access to the name, address, email address and telephone listing of each secondary school student served, unless the parent of such student (or the student if he or she has attained 18 years of age) has submitted a written request to opt out of the disclosure of such information, in which case the information may not be released without the parent’s (or the student’s) prior written consent;
  • Notify parents of the students served, or the student (if he or she has attained 18 years of age), of the opportunity to submit a written request to opt out of the disclosure of the student’s name, address, email address, and telephone listing, unless prior written consent has been provided; and
  • Provide military recruiters the same access to secondary school students as is provided generally to institutions of higher education or to prospective employers of those students.
For example, if the school allows higher education institutions or prospective employers on school property to provide information to students about postsecondary opportunities, the school must provide the same access to military recruiters.
 
Giving military recruiters access to student information is in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Under FERPA, schools may disclose, without consent, “directory” information such as a student’s name and contact information, but they must tell parent or legal guardian about this disclosure and allow them the opportunity to request that the school not disclose this information.  ESEA Section 8528 includes an additional requirement that a parent or legal guardian is informed that the school routinely discloses names, addresses, and telephone numbers to military recruiters upon request and offer the opportunity to submit a written request to opt out of the disclosure.
 

Last Modified: 11/30/2023 2:11:41 PM