IMPORTANT UPDATE

The new Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children is now active.

The Compact has has been adopted by10 states.

Department of Defense Press Release

State-by-State Status - 2008

(updated July 13, 2008)

Now Available Online

Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children promotional video

For a free copy, please contact Keith A. Scott at (859) 244-8247 or kscott@csg.org.

Background

Military families move between postings on a regular basis. While reassignments can often be a boon for career personnel, they often wreak havoc on the children of military families. Issues these children face include: losing and making new friends, adjusting to new cities and bases, and changing schools. While the armed services have taken great leaps to ease the transition of personnel, their spouses and most importantly children, much remains to be done at the state and local levels to ensure that the children of military families are afforded the same opportunities for educational success as other children and are not penalized or delayed in achieving their educational goals by inflexible administrative and bureaucratic practices.

The average military student faces transition challenges more than twice during high school, and most military children will have six to nine different school systems in their lives from kindergarten to 12th grade. With more than half of all military personnel supporting families, the impacts of reassignment and long deployments are key considerations when making long-term life choices.

Specific impacts on military children include:

• Transfer of Records
• Course Sequencing
• Graduation Requirements
• Exclusion from Extra-Curricular Activities
• Redundant or Missed Entrance/Exit Testing
• Kindergarten and First Grade Entrance Age Variations
• Power of Custodial Parents While Parents are Deployed

The new Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children addresses these issues, as well as compact enforcement, administration, finances, communications, data sharing and training.

Letters of Support

From The National Military Family Association

Downloadable Materials

Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children

Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children Resource Kit

State-by-State Status Chart   Updated 7/13/2008 (PDF) NEW

Press Coverage

Military Child Education Agreement Now in Effect  - DefenseLink News Release  July 11, 2008 NEW

Military officials address school transitions" Clovis News Journal, June 19, 2008

"Governor signs Polidori's plan for military families" A Heritage Newspaper, June 15, 2008

Kansas Leads the Way in Assisting Military Children - Commentary by LTG William Caldwell on Interstate Compact Educational Opportunity for Military Children

Kansas, Kentucky Enact Compact on Education Transition for Military Children, CSG Press Release

"Beshear signs agreement to help military children" The Herald-Leader, April 15, 2008

 Kansas, Kentucky First States to Sign Compact on Education Transition for Military Children, DefenseLink News Release, April 11, 2008

"Vote set today on Coody's military student transfer bill" The Lawton Constitution, March 11, 2008

"Military Moves: New Compact Aims to Ease Education Challenges Faced by Military Children" State News, Feb 2008

Admiral Encourages Lawmakers to Enact Educational Compact for Military Children - December 7, 2007

Air Force Times - July 13, 2007

Army Times - July 13, 2007

Navy Times - July 13, 2007

Marine Corps Times - July 13, 2007

NewsZap.com - Nov. 23, 2006

Links

Press Release - CSG launches new Educating Military Children Compact project (August 2006)

Key Issues - Department of Defense/State Military Partnership

Press Release - California creates Military Affairs Advisory Council (July 2006)

USA4MilitaryFamiles.org

Resources

Advisory Group roster

Drafting Team roster

Project & Issue Summary

For more information, please contact Keith A. Scott at (859) 244-8247 or kscott@csg.org.