School districts are still free to make up their own policies, subject to the restrictions of other state laws. The law contains no sanctions or punishments. Schools deemed non-complying would face no loss of federal funds. The law gives the Pentagon a new political tool to coerce schools into granting the military privileged, not equal, access to students. The military has greater access to schools than almost any other outside institution.
Few districts have policies that regulate recruitment behavior to any significant degree.
Those local or school policies that do exist generally do not bar only the military. In fact, most school policies regarding the distribution or sale of directory lists are favorable to the military. Whether the Pentagon will be successful depends in part on how committed schools are to protecting the rights of students. It is critical that concerned members of school communities raise their voices highlighting the improper behavior and high-pressure tactics already being employed by recruiters in their efforts to rope in more young people.