Help military children have educational opportunities they deserve

Changing schools can be a huge ordeal for military families and military children.  Education curriculum and education requirements can vary tremendously between states and between school districts.

For those reasons the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children is very important.  Find out if this issue is being addressed in your state.

Twenty-five states are considering introducing the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children this year. Interstate Compacts are intended to facilitate a more uniformed approach between states on specific local and state issues. Interstate Compacts become active when 10 or more states adopt the proposed language. This particular compact focuses on military children transferring between school districts and states, and recognizes that no matter how supportive states are of military children they can only control what happens within their borders. By joining together with other states in the compact, each state can help ensure that children have the educational opportunities they deserve even after they move to another state.

States considering this important compact are: Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, and Washington. Several of these states have filed bills to enact the Interstate Compact and more are expected within the month. In addition, Committee hearings are anticipated to be scheduled soon since many legislatures are in short sessions. Those states not in session in 2008 are: Arizona, Montana, North Dakota, Nevada, Oregon and Texas.   

NMFA is pleased to have been a member of both the Advisory Group and Drafting Team, and looks forward to the compact becoming law. We urge you to help in this process by contacting your local member of the state legislature. For more information and to track the progress of the compact, go to: http://www.csg.org/programs/ncic/EducatingMilitaryChildrenCompact.aspx.

**UPDATES**

Kansas and Kentucky enacted a the Compact on Education Transition for Military Children into law

Kansas and Kentucky enacted a the Compact on Education Transition for Military Children into law, which will ease the transition for military children as their servicemember-parents move from assignment to assignment during their careers. Twenty-one other states are also considering the measure. Adoption in 10 states would make the compact operational. States that sign on will agree to work collectively with other compact states to create uniform standards of practice on the transfer of records and other transition issues. For more information on the Compact on Education Transition for Military Children, visit The Council of State Governments website.

Tenth State Signs on to Educational Compact!

Military families won an enormous victory last week when Delaware became the tenth critical state to adopt The Interstate Compact for Educational Opportunity for Military Children. The first state to adopt the compact was Kansas exactly three months ago in April. Since then, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Oklahoma have all signed on to the compact. The compact is now activated in these 10 states that have adopted it, and for other states that subsequently join. 

Developed by the Council of State Governments, Department of Defense, and education and military family experts, the compact addresses common problems that affect military students as a result of frequent moves and deployments. States that sign on to the compact agree to work collectively with other compact states to create uniform standards of practice regarding: the transfer of records; course placement; graduation requirements; redundant or missed testing; entrance-age variations; and other transition issues.   

As a member of both the Advisory Committee and Drafting Team, National Military Family Association (NMFA) has actively supported the adoption of this compact from its beginning. Military families have long needed the support of individual states during the transition process; whether transferring within a state, from state to state, or from an overseas location. NMFA firmly believes, that in order for families to have smoother transitions, each state must become a better “receiving” state as well as “sending” state.

While this is a huge victory, there is still work to be done. Families living in states that have not adopted the compact should contact their local legislator and ask them to support this initiative. Visit the NMFA website at: www.nmfa.org/interstatecompact for information about the effort. With the compact's activation, several administrative actions will take place in the next few months to make it operational, including the appointment of commissioners and the development of writing rules.   

With approximately 1.5 million children of military families attending schools, other than those sponsored by the Department of Defense, NMFA applauds these ten states for leading the way to alleviate some of the many challenges our military children face when moving.

Comments

[BetsyB]

I think this is a terrific idea! I went to 11 schools and 4 high schools growing up as a military brat. It was a real struggle. I hope North Carolina gets on the ball with this

[Tressa]

It would be really nice if something like this would work. We homeschool the kiddos to avoid all the problems of changing schools all the time.

[Vypergirl]

Wow this would be awesome! My daughter ended up changing schools 4 times in 2 years, and they were preK and Kindergarten. It was crazy how different the approaches were in all the schools. Only one of the 3 states we were in is listed here. I hope Texas joins in, as I hope that is where we get to go back to eventually!

[Doreen]

There is already a group that is addressing this concern in our state - the Military Child Education Coalition. see their website http://www.militarychild.org/

[Karen James]

I went to 14 different schools from kindergarten to 12th grade. Some were public and some were Catholic. There was a multitude of differences in the curriculums. I do have some gaps in my education that were never addressed. I have always struggled with math in particular. The idea of being tutored was never suggested back then.
It would be wonderful for the kids today to have some continuity in their education.

KJ

[Pegster]

This is an issue that we have been attempting to address for many, many years. I remember them talking about it back when our oldest daughter was first going into school... 15 years ago. I hope that something can be done, because it is a real problem in the lives of military families.

Frankly, though, I think this goes beyond just military families. ANY family that moves from one state to another will deal with the inconsistency between educational systems. I would like to see someone focus on creating a federal standard so that all our children across the country are receiving the same education!

[Kristen Wyatt]

Hello, my name is Kristen Wyatt, and I'm an AP reporter who covers the Maryland legislature. Maryland lawmakers will take up this measure soon, and I'd like to work on a larger piece about it, and it would really help my story if I could talk to some military moms or dads interested in this legislation. It doesn't matter what state you're in! If anyone would be interested in talking to me for my story, please call me at 410-269-0196 or e-mail me at kwyatt@ap.org and I'll call you at your convenience for a quick interview! Many thanks...

[edumacated in cali.]

How will State legislatures have the power to tell a school district to do business? Each district is an island within itself. From my understanding this is not federal law.....state law will carry no weight when it comes to taking on the schools. Food for thought!

[mamaloader]

I need a copy of the compact - the document and what exactly it states - my children are being educated at DoD school so if there is one that is special for that district if I could get a copy to that one it would great. Thanks