Changing Schools

Relocation is part of military life. Every few years your family may be required to move, possibly across the country or to another country.

Relocating your school-aged student due to PCS or deployment includes unique challenges and responsibilities, including:

• Transferring records
• Learning the differences in education and graduation requirements for the current versus the new state
• Finding support for enrollment in electives, sports and other extracurricular activities
• Ensuring children can get the same individualized education program services at their new school

Military OneSource provides practical information on enrollment, placement and attendance, as well as other helpful information you’ll need to successfully help your children, youth and teens navigate these transitions and build lifelong resiliency. Here are some things you can do before your move to ensure a smooth transition.

The advance enrollment initiative enables military parents to pre-enroll their children in a school district before they arrive at their new PCS destination.

Through advance enrollment, military-connected students can:

• Participate in random lotteries for charter or magnet schools
• Enroll in specialized academic programs
• Begin coordinating an individualized education program, or IEP, and 504 plan requirements
• Register for courses and plan their course of study
• Know which school they will attend before arriving at the new location

For high school teens, transferring won’t impact their expected graduation. Here are some examples of how the Interstate Compact assists with checking off graduation requirements:

• Course waivers: If your student has already completed similar coursework, the new school may waive courses required for graduation. In some states, schools can deny the request to apply past coursework. If the school denies applying that coursework toward graduation, it must provide an alternate means of obtaining required coursework to be completed for on-time graduation.
• Exit exams: The new school district may accept your student’s exit exams and achievement tests required to graduate from his or her previous school. If the school does not, it will provide an alternate means of providing exit exams for the student.
• Senior-year transfers: If your student changes school during his or her senior year, the two school districts will work together to get a diploma from the former school to ensure on-time graduation.

Before your move:

• Alert your new school and your medical provider at least 30 days ahead of your move.
• Request a copy of your child’s complete educational and medical records.
• Submit the records to the new school as soon as possible.

If your student is covered by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, federal law protects your child’s right to receive the same services identified in his or her IEP. The receiving school may perform subsequent evaluations to assess eligibility and ensure appropriate placement. Learn more about moving with an IEP.

If you have additional questions or need any information regarding your child with special needs, contact:

• EFMP family support staff on your installation
• Military OneSource special needs consultants at 800-342-9647

You can also log in to start a secure live chat with a Military OneSource special needs consultant or view international calling options.

Your local school liaison can also help families with special education needs by connecting you to your new school’s special education department.