Nashville schools no longer posting honor rolls

02/03/04 -- On the advice of the school district's lawyers, all schools in Nashville, Tenn., have stopped posting honor rolls, so underachieving students won't be embarrassed.

After a few parents complained that their children might be ridiculed for not making the list, the district's attorneys warned that state privacy laws forbid releasing any academic information, good or bad, without permission.

Some Nashville schools also put academic pep rallies on hold, and others might considering canceling spelling bees or stopping the practice of having students' best work displayed in hallways. And now schools across the state may follow Nashville's lead.

The change has upset many parents who want their children recognized for their hard-won achievements. "This is as backward as it gets," says Nashville PTA member Miriam Mimms. "There has to be a way to come back from the rigidity."

The issue appears unique to Tennessee, say U.S. Department of Education officials, since most states follow federal student privacy guidelines, which allow the release of such things as honor rolls. "It's the first time I've heard of schools doing that," says department spokesperson Jim Bradshaw.

Nashville's lawyers based their decision last month on a 1970 state privacy law, which up to now had not been challenged with regard to the posting of honor rolls.

School officials plan to distribute permission slips before report cards are released March 1 so parents can indicate whether they want their children's work recognized.