Arizona Schools & Assumed Consent: When Fine Print Sells Out Your Child’s Privacy

Every school year, parents are buried in a blizzard of consent forms—medical releases, media waivers, technology agreements—most of which go unread in the rush to get kids back in class. Buried in the fine print is a decades-old policy that allowed schools to quietly hand over students' personal information to outside vendors—unless parents knew to opt out. But a new Arizona law changes that, requiring schools to get explicit permission first. It’s a small default switch with massive implications for child privacy. Despite overwhelming public support, the only opposition came from liberal lawmakers. In this investigation, we explain the policy shift and speak exclusively with Christopher Thomas of the Goldwater Institute, the policy expert who led the charge to put parents—and not vendors—back in control.Please send news tips to [email protected].