The Compact

The Compact The Compact

Providing educational opportunities for Military children Providing educational opportunities for Military children

BY DEBORAH FETZER

PROGRAM OPERATIONS FOR YOUTH AND SCHOOLS

When Military children move they already face many challenges like leaving friends and having to make new ones, getting used to a new school and a new city, fitting in, trying out for sports, and much more. Repeated moves and frequently changing schools can also pose challenges to academic success and achievement. Fortunately, The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, “The Compact,” removes many of the barriers to academic success.

The Compact is an agreement between states that ‘levels the playing field’ for Military children and gives them more opportunities for educational success. It has been adopted by all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and is enacted via a memorandum of understanding for Department of Defense Educational Activity (DoDEA) schools so regardless of where a student transitions to or from; the provisions of The Compact protect them.

There is significant need to ensure 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. The Compact addresses the following issues: Records and Enrollment

Under the Compact agreement, schools must share educational records in order to expedite proper enrollment and placement of students. States should give 30 days to obtain appropriate immunizations in the gaining state. Students in Kindergarten and first grade shall be allowed to continue their enrollment at grade level in the receiving state commensurate with their grade level from the sending state. Placement and Attendance For course placement, the receiving state school shall initially honor placement in educational courses based on the student’s enrollment in the sending state school if the courses are offered.

For special education services, the receiving state shall initially provide comparable services to a student with disabilities based on his/her current Individualized Education Program (IEP); and the receiving state shall make reasonable accommodations and modifications to address the needs of incoming students with disabilities, subject to an existing 504 or Title II Plan.

School districts shall be given greater flexibility to grant excused absences to students for visitation with a parent or legal guardian, who are Active-Duty and who are impacted by deployment. Eligibility

School district can not charge tuition to a Military child placed in care of a non-custodial parent. A Military child placed in care of a non-custodial parent, may continue to attend their enrolled school, while residing with the custodial parent. State and local education agencies should have an easy transition or Military children to be included in extracurricular activities to the extent they are otherwise qualified. Graduation

If you have students, who are seniors, waiver requirements and exit exams may be simple to transition to their new school. Receiving schools may waive specific courses required for graduation if similar course work has been satisfactorily completed in the sending state. Exit exams provide a more uniform standard for how exit or end-of-course exams, national norm-referenced achievement tests, or other alternative tests impact students who are approaching graduation.

Transfers during senior year, allows the receiving state to work with the sending state to permit the student to graduate with a diploma from the latter if the receiving state has exhausted all of its options under the compact and is unable to grant a diploma.

For more information, regarding the Interstate Compact, call the School Liaison Office (SLO) at 915569-5064, via email at usarmy.bliss.imcom-fmwrc. mbx.school-liaison-office. The SLO is located at Bldg. 505 Pershing Road, hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.