Why does school registration require a social security number? (Buckhead: employment, school districts)

[AutumnRose]

When I registered my children (Cobb county) I signed a waiver to not have to give a SSN.

[Mattie]

Originally Posted by Shagbark Hickory

You know...

Isn't it about time we had a separate numbering system for student identification throughout school and college?

It's rediculous to keep using the SSN numbers for student identification an everything else.. When I was in college they posted SSN's on the wall with test scores.

SSN's need to be kept private and there needs to be another layer of security so that identity thieves cannot just fill out a credit card application with someone else's SSN.

Not anymore. We just finished a college orientation, and were specifically told that they now give student ID's instead of using SSN's. I was glad to hear it!

[StPaulEastSider]

Originally Posted by billl

Are you offering to fund my child's private school education?

Even if money weren't an issue, private schools have their own issues. Ever hear their claims that their children are a year ahead of the public schools? Do you wonder how they accomplish that? I don't have to wonder anymore: I know.

LOL Bill... I am with you. I personally attended private schools and I have no desire to subject my children to the same myopic life experiences in their formative years. And the practice of red sirting kindergarteners? Puh-leeze!

But hey, some parents want that for their kids. Live and let live.

[Shagbark Hickory]

Originally Posted by Mattie

Not anymore. We just finished a college orientation, and were specifically told that they now give student ID's instead of using SSN's. I was glad to hear it!

That's great news.

Now if they'd just keep those @#$%& credit card companies and their "recruiters" off campus.

[RainyRainyDay]

When I registered my child in elementary school here she didn't have an SSN. She was on L2 status - 100% legally in the USA and eligible to attend school, but not eligible to hold an SSN.

I had to sign a waiver although I disliked this very much because the language forced me to make an untrue statement. I wasn't declining to provide her SSN. She simply didn't have one. However the school administrator said my only choices were to provide the number or sign the waiver. The law says one of those must be provided. I bet the state legislators who framed that law had no idea that there is a class of people who are lawfully in the country but not allowed to have SSNs.

[BobKovacs]

Originally Posted by RainyRainyDay

When I registered my child in elementary school here she didn't have an SSN. She was on L2 status - 100% legally in the USA and eligible to attend school, but not eligible to hold an SSN.

I had to sign a waiver although I disliked this very much because the language forced me to make an untrue statement. I wasn't declining to provide her SSN. She simply didn't have one. However the school administrator said my only choices were to provide the number or sign the waiver. The law says one of those must be provided. I bet the state legislators who framed that law had no idea that there is a class of people who are lawfully in the country but not allowed to have SSNs.

They probably did, but that's not the group of folks they were concerned with when this requirement was put in place. I can only imagine that their theory at the time was "if we ask the illegals to give us SSN's when they enroll their kids, they'll probably run from the building- that'll get rid of 'em!"

[mamamarie]

I registered my child for K in Fayette County and had to have a copy of the ss card. I also had to for both of my kids for the daycare. I thought that a little strange and now I am a little worried since I made copies and gave it.

[RoslynHolcomb]

I imagine it's much as Bob said, to keep illegals out of the school system.

[globalnomad]

Kids are the newest targets for identity theft.

Families are usually unaware of identity theft until the child applies for to college or for student loans and scholarships and is denied because of huge credit problems.

Could take years and expensive legal assistance to get sorted out.

It may make sense these days to place a credit lock on your kids accounts with the 3 major credit bureaus so that no credit can be opened under their names without your permission.

[vnagendr]

I just ran across this thread (google search: School Enrollment SSN). For anyone that is looking for this information, here is a statement of fact from DOJ -- available here

[url]http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/edu/documents/plylerfact.pdf[/url]

Excerpt from the document
However, a school district may not prevent your child from enrolling in school if you choose not to provide a social security number.

I have been refused treatment at doctor's offices before (not emergency rooms as that is required by law) for not willing to disclose my child's SSN. This whole SSN business for treatment or education is silly anyway. In my experience (as a computer security guy for 10+ years) anyone that asks for SSNs doesn't have the common sense to protect it -- so they should stop asking for it.