Must students present a social security number to be enrolled?
No. In 2007, the State legislature deleted the statute making social security numbers the method of student identification. Schools may ask for social security numbers to use as a school ID, but no student is required to provide a social security number. Federal law prohibits state or local government agencies from denying an “individual any right, benefit, or privilege provided by law because of such individual’s refusal to disclose his social security account number.” Sec. 7(a)(1) of the Privacy Act (found at 5 U.S.C. § 552(a) note (Disclosure of Social Security Number)). This information is available on the U.S. Dept. of Justice’s website, at: http://www.usdoj.gov/04foia/1974ssnu.htm. For schools using another number for all students, or for those students who do not wish to provide a social security number, another unique number should be used as a personal identification number. See the Department of Education’s attendance manual, section E-101 (available at: http://www.
No. In 2007, the State legislature deleted the statute making social security numbers the method of student identification. Schools may ask for social security numbers to use as a school ID, but no student is required to provide a social security number. Federal law prohibits state or local government agencies from denying an “individual any right, benefit, or privilege provided by law because of such individual’s refusal to disclose his social security account number.” Sec. 7(a)(1) of the Privacy Act (found at 5 U.S.C. § 552(a) note (Disclosure of Social Security Number)). This information is available on the U.S. Dept. of Justice’s website, at: http://www.usdoj.gov/04foia/1974ssnu.htm. For schools using another number for all students, or for those students who do not wish to provide a social security number, another unique number should be used as a personal identification number. See the Department of Education’s attendance manual, section E-101 (available at: http://www.state.tn.u
