Background check for incoming matriculants

Hey all,

I received an email from the school I'm entering this coming fall regarding the background check, and I was surprised to read in the email that as soon as I order the background check (which is due pretty soon) the third party company would let my current employer know about my plan to attend a school this coming fall. Yes, there is an option to tell the company to hold off on informing my employer for now, but I'm a bit surprised that the background check company would inform current employers 6 months before the school starts, when the custom for employees leaving for school is the two-week notice. Is this normal for most schools?

Thanks.