Student Tracking

Last week, at my daughter's middle school, there was a new computer system installation announcement to the students. Now all students must utilize a computer in the cafeteria for every food purchase. Each instance requires the input of the student ID number. This is done for ALL food purchases even though the students were told that this tracking is for federal assistance with the food program. But, if a student is not on reduced or free lunch programs, and is paying cash for purchases, the student still must enter the ID number and go through the process. The school has NOT notified the parents of this new process.

For more information, use Google search engine with input of *tracking school lunch purchases* and there will be several screens of links. One of the links quotes a price range of $7K-$10K for one of these systems. Another link describes their system which includes a photo display of the student when the ID number is input. One link describes the usage of a bar code (IBC = International Bar Code).

My daughter has been taught about tracking and bar codes. She, therefore, came home and told me immediately. She will not be making any purchases in the cafeteria.

"Kathy"

Irving, Texas

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Parents may wish to visit the on-line website for the Student Data Handbook, put out by the National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education.

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