Changing Schools

Whether it’s your first move or your fifth, even the most organized military parents need help navigating a new school district’s standardized testing system. While the federal No Child Left Behind Act requires every school district to test students in reading and math, every state has developed its own testing system. Here’s what you need to know before your child switches schools.

When moving to a new duty station means going to a new state as well as a new school for your kids, rest assured that the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children is designed to make the transition smooth. The Department of Defense, in collaboration with the National Center for Interstate Compacts and the Council of State Governments developed the compact to address the educational transitions for military families. All 50 states have committed to helping your children enroll in school, register for the classes they need, and graduate on time.

A temporary waiver, which will allow your military child to pre-enroll for school before you arrive at your PCS destination, is now obtainable in 19 states.

Whether your family is moving to Ansbach, Germany, or Camp Zama, Japan, you’ll want to know everything you can about overseas schools, especially if you have children with special educational needs.