Mission: Family: Simple steps to help kids transition to new schools - Military Community, Spouse and Family Resources - Military Times

Mission: Family: Simple steps to help kids transition to new schools

If you’re moving to a new duty station with children, one of the challenges you’ll face is helping ease your kids’ transition to a new school.

More schools and communities are becoming aware of the needs of military children, but parents still are the most important factor in a smooth transition.

The first thing to do is notify officials at your child’s current school as soon as you know you’ll be moving. Then you will need to provide your child’s new school with a transcript or an official letter from the proper authority at your child’s current school showing record of attendance, academic information and grade placement.

You’ll also need documented evidence of your child’s immunizations and date of birth.

A number of transition issues are being made easier through the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for Military Children. Three states — Nebraska, North Dakota and Vermont — recently signed on to the compact, bringing the total to 39.

That means that more than 90 percent of military children are covered under this agreement, which allows for uniform treatment as military children transfer between school districts among member states.

“But just because a state hasn’t become a member doesn’t mean they aren’t friendly to military families,” said retired Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Norman Arflack, executive director of the commission that oversees implementation of the compact.

“We still have the ability to work with state officials,” he said, “and we work with all of them.”

Education issues covered by the compact include course and education program placement; special education services; absences related to deployment activities; eligibility for extracurricular participation; and flexibility in addressing graduation requirements.

The commission and the states help military parents sort through issues, but Arflack reminds parents that “the compact doesn’t give a special advantage to military children — it just makes sure military children are not disadvantaged because of their parent’s service.”

Regardless of whether a state is a compact member, if you need help resolving issues with a school, contact your installation’s school liaison office. Visit www.militaryinstallations.dod.mil for contact information.

For more information or to contact compact officials in your state, visit www.mic3.net.

More resources for parents are at www.militarychild.org and www.militaryfamily.org. A resource for parents of special-needs children is www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/tf/efmp.