BURLINGTON — At least 79 Burlington High School students — 29 seniors and 50 juniors, the numbers that can be released by law — have chosen to opt out of the list of names forwarded to the U.S. military for possible recruitment, according to BHS Principal Linda Hayes.

Some sophomores and freshmen have also opted out, Hayes said, but information on students of those ages is not allowed to be made public.

One aspect of the No Child Left Behind Act, a federal school reform law, requires school districts to provide military recruiters with student phone numbers and addresses. If not, the districts risk losing federal funds for education.

Parents of any high school student, or students over 18 doing it by themselves, can opt out of the list by submitting a written request to keep the information private.

At a June School Committee meeting, a Francis Wyman Road resident called this procedure "nothing but a back-door draft," saying he had read an article about unscrupulous tactics being advanced by military recruiters around the nation.

At a subsequent meeting, the school board asked Supt. Dr. James Picone to address the matter; it was determined information for the opt-out policy would be included in the student handbook, and the form would be sent home with each student.

Hayes confirmed that forms were sent home to parents.

"There is also an explanation in the (student) handbook," the principal stated.

Meanwhile, Hayes said, military recruiters visit the high school from time-to-time. They call in advance and schedule their visits.

"They will usually set up a table in the lobby or the cafeteria," Hayes said. "They don't come in on any set schedule, it varies. It is much like college recruiters coming to the school."

Hayes also said she has no problem with the recruiting concept.

"I feel it is an option for the students, strictly informational," the principal said, adding that she has "not received a single complaint" from students about military recruiters.