Ways to Support Your Children in School

Give your children a head start in their education. Use the following tips and resources to help your student adjust to and thrive in school. You can also find resources and services to help support children after a traumatic event.

Your student’s support network

Installation school liaisons

Your installation school liaison is your first stop for assistance with all things education.

School liaisons can:

• Help you determine the best fit for your child when changing schools
• Provide information about your “must haves” — including school culture, academics and extracurricular activities
• Connect you to the Exceptional Family Member Program Family Support provider and your school’s special education department
• Identify helpful military youth programs outside of school
• Provide assistance for your child’s specific educational needs
• Connect you to resources such as laws and educational guidance through the Department of Education and the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission

Homeschooling support

Military OneSource and installation services can help parents who choose homeschooling.

• Learn about Military OneSource homeschooling resources and support services, whether you are new to homeschooling or have homeschooled your students for years.
• Installation school liaisons can help with state and local homeschooling requirements and connect you with nearby homeschool groups.
• Installation youth centers offer enrichment classes and may open their facilities during the school day to children who receive homeschool education. Contact your installation youth center for more information.

Tutors

It’s easier for your student to keep up than catch up.

Tutor.com for U.S. Military and Their Families offers live online tutors who can help with homework, studying, test prep, proofreading, organizational skills and more. Tutoring and homework help is available 24/7 at no cost to:

• Active-duty service members
• Their spouses and K-12 dependents
• Surviving spouses (unmarried)
• Surviving dependent children and orphans of personnel who died on active duty or while in retired status (whether the surviving spouse remarries or not)

Child, youth and teen programs

Child and youth programs provide safe, developmentally-appropriate places for your child to socialize and grow, develop essential skills and make lasting connections.

• Youth centers are available on almost every installation where families PCS.
• Centers are staffed with trained, caring professionals who understand how to connect with youth, support them in their teen years and recognize the signs of stress.
• Read more about the military youth and teen programs offered on installations worldwide.

Supporting your student at home

Boost your student’s academic success and lifelong love of learning by fostering a supportive learning environment and healthy habits.

• Give your child a quiet place to study, and help your student create and maintain routines that support learning.
• Monitor homework and help your student chip away at larger projects.
• Ask your student specific, not general, questions about school. Talk about how your own work connects to what they are learning.
• Encourage healthy living and active lifestyles, and explore how nutrition supports mission readiness.

Connect to support for specific situations

Whether your student needs everyday education support or counseling for a specific life experience, Military OneSource and your installation offices can help.

Students with special medical or education needs

The Exceptional Family Member Program can help you navigate the War Department’s network of services and support.

• Contact your installation EFMP Family Support provider who can provide information and referral about your child’s special education needs. Get PCS transition assistance with a warm handoff to the EFMP Family Support provider at your gaining installation.
• Visit the EFMP & Me online tool to create an education checklist with information and resources tailored for your family.
• Use the Education Directory for Children with Special Needs to locate early intervention and school-age special education information.
• Reach out to your local school liaison for education support, information and referral for family members with special needs.