ANNAPOLIS – The Maryland Senate narrowly passed a bill Tuesday to prohibit local school districts from sharing student information with military recruiters beginning July 1.
Under current law, local school boards decide how much information to share with recruiters.
But the Senate voted 25-22 to require all school boards to conform to a new state law that would make confidential all information associated with the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery — the test students take to qualify for service — unless a parent or guardian submits release forms saying otherwise.
“This bill protects family privacy and family decision-making,” said Sen. Jamie Raskin, D-Silver Spring. “Before any information like the name, address, phone number, Social Security number … before those are turned over to the military they go to the family first.”
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He said the policy remains consistent with how the state handles student information in any other context.
“In no other circumstance would a school be able to turn over any information about a student to a private company,” he said.
But Sen. Andrew P. Harris, R-Baltimore and Harford counties, said the bill sends an “unpatriotic” message to the U.S. military. The U.S. Naval Academy is based in Annapolis.
“This bill says there is something not noble about serving in the military — something the government has to protect you from,” he said. “That we can’t even leave this up to the county because we, as a state, know better and we need to protect students from the recruiters.”
“This bill says there is something not noble about serving in the military — something the government has to protect you from,” he said. “That we can’t even leave this up to the county because we, as a state, know better and we need to protect students from the recruiters.”
Local school boards in Montgomery, Howard, Prince George’s and Frederick counties already comply with the new mandate.
Sen. Alex Mooney, R-Frederick and Washington counties, said the bill singles out military recruiters by giving them a “special hurdle” they have to overcome.
“Fighting for your country, serving in the Army — it’s good for people,” he said. “Maybe some people don’t agree with the Iraq war. But we still need a military.”
Sen. Allan H. Kittleman, R-Howard, said the bill is a tool for the state to undermine local control.
The bill now will go to Gov. Martin O’Malley for his signature.
