For military families, July through September are months filled with careful preparation. There may be shots to endure, a PCS to unpack from, backpacks to buy, and teachers to meet. Thankfully, there are school resources available for military families.
Print this collection of resources and add them to your school command center. You never know when you’ll want these educational, PCS, and deployment resources at your fingertips.
Military Family Educational Resources
Although they can be scattered, the military does a pretty good job of providing educational resources for military children. You just have to dig around and ask questions to unearth exactly what your family needs. Often, parents find that starting with one of the larger or more established outlets leads to the localized support that’s really required.
Student Liaison Officers (SLO)
The U.S. Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA) employs Student Liaison Officers for military branches worldwide. The SLOs offer guidance on topics such as PCS transitions, the transfer of school records, homeschooling resources, and determining how to acquire special education services.
The SLO’s functions are to:
- Serve as the primary point of contact for school-related matters
- Represent, inform, and assist the command
- Assist military families with educational issues
- Coordinate with local school systems
- Forge relationships between the military, the community, and schools
Military Interstate Children's Compact (MIC3)
The Military Interstate Children’s Compact is a state-to-state agreement created to help military kids experience seamless transfers between schools. Although all states have signed on to a version, gaps in education transfers still exist.
As a parent of military students, it's essential to understand the MIC3 and how DoWEA schools address implementation. The compact provides crucial information for parents to know how their local SLO can assist with issues detailed in the MIC3.
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Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC)
The Military Child Education Coalition leads the way regarding educational support for military children. Their website offers more than enough to get parents on the right path for any school transition. MCEC has unique recordings, videos, and downloads loaded with advice for all ages, including high school students. Topics include college, workforce, life readiness, and exceptional needs.
To implement these programs, MCEC has Military Student Consultants on the ground at the largest military bases to assist with school or PCS move issues that may hinder the family’s ability to settle in their new town.
One trouble with moving to a new school is the possibility that the school hasn’t had a significant military population in the past. Administrators, from the local school up to the school board level, must learn how to serve these students. MCEC’s consultants advise districts on how to serve military students effectively.
Home Education
Homeschooling is a distinct possibility for military families for numerous reasons, including frequent relocations or the lack of quality education at the current duty station. Myriad resources are available to help parents decide if homeschooling is the right choice for their family. A good place to start is with your state's homeschooling organization.
Help for Communicating with Teachers
Meg Flanagan, M.Ed., and a military spouse, is the founder of Meg Flanagan Education Solutions, a special education resource for parents transitioning their IEP or 504 plan student. She is the go-to pro for everything military-kid-school-related. Meg shared some well-honed advice for communicating with your children’s teachers.
Chatting in person or through email can be tricky because, as a parent, your priority is your child’s well-being. However, as a classroom parent, you understand that supporting the teacher is one of the best ways to make the year successful.
Photo by SDI Productions from Getty Images Signature via Canva.com
Meg details how to balance these roles with the following effective communication techniques.
Instead of leading with a major frustration in your conversation, connect with the teacher by highlighting a positive aspect of the classroom or something your student particularly enjoys. Then, ask your question or share your worries regarding your child. Keep these issues brief but descriptive, using neutral language. Present the teacher with the facts only and wait for the teacher to share additional details, as you may not be aware of situational facts.
Meg advises, "End with a positive message, like 'I look forward to working with you to help my child.' That’s it! Keeping to the facts and including positive feedback makes the teacher feel good. And that helps them get to 'Yes!'"
PCS Resources for Military Children
What should parents do before their child starts a new school after a military move? Whether it's your high schooler or kindergartener, children of all ages benefit from a little extra encouragement. Sometimes, though, pep talks from parents aren’t enough to calm their nerves.
For very young children, the adorable Sesame Street website and mobile app, Sesame Street for Military Families, could become their new best friends during a challenging PCS season.
Check in with your closest base’s Youth Sponsorship Program. It’s designed to educate and support transitioning families. The program provides resources to address education-related questions and emphasizes connecting kids with other children in similar situations.
Review your school’s PTA or PTO page for events to help prepare kids before the first day of school. Casual meet-and-greets on the playground are popular. Schools with a significant military-kid population often have military groups or committees within the PTA. Your specific school may also have transition-related topics listed on its homepage, especially if it’s a Purple Star School.
Before school starts, double-check if the new school or next grade level requires updated shots. Kindergarten and 6th grade are traditionally when kids need additional booster shots to enter the classroom. Many local health departments offer shots for free if the back-to-school line for shots is way too long at your local base’s immunization clinic.
Kick Off the School Year with Savings
The older the kids get, the more expensive they become. Take advantage of discounts and giveaways created for military families. Organizations and companies will only provide opportunities if we use the programs!
- Follow the USO and other military family-centered organizations to participate in their giveaways and back-to-school events.
- YMCAs across the country host Back-to-School Bashes, with some offering school supplies.
- Operation Homefront’s Back-to-School Brigade is well-loved for its drive to give school supplies to military kids in need. Kids receive backpacks filled with everything they need, plus a couple of items just for fun.
- Deal News is an excellent place to discover the latest sales and what to expect from retailers for back-to-school discounts.
- Was the Exchange picked over when you went in for back-to-school clothing and supplies? Look for your state and nearby states’ tax-free holidays. There are even more savings during these dates.
Photo by Jelena Lalic from Getty Images Signature from Canva.com
Deployment Resource for Military Kids
All parents know the importance of a bedtime routine, which often includes a story read by Mom or Dad. As back-to-school dates approach, these calming habits become even more important for happier and more productive mornings. If the military member is deployed or far from home during this transition, how can they help their children and spouse prepare for nighttime routines?
United Through Reading is a non-profit whose primary mission is to connect separated service members with their children through books. UTR offers deployed and long-term geographically separated parents the opportunity to record themselves on video reading to their children.
Young children adore the repetition of a beloved book read by a parent. Remember Goodnight Moon? But older kids benefit from these videos, too. Their parents don’t have to read to them, but both can simultaneously read a title. Later, the parent can discuss the major themes and how they relate to real life at home on video. UTR staff never sees the videos, so parents can be as silly or poignant as they want without hesitation.
A new school coupled with a deployment becomes a tremendous obstacle for families. Kids who watch their parents read to them each night stay connected to their support system. Plus, the parent who stays at home also benefits from the service member’s support from afar.
There’s so much to do before school starts. Don’t worry; you probably won’t finish it before the first day, and that’s okay. There are still months of school to come!
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