Education Activity Launches Interactive Resource

American Forces Press Service

April 13, 2010 - The Department of Defense Education Activity's educational partnership has launched an interactive educational resource for military families, military leaders and school leaders.

The resource, "Students at the Center," provides information on important policies, procedures, and best practices that are critical to supporting the needs of military families' education.

"Our military families have high expectations and unique needs regarding the education of their children, and we saw a need to develop a tool to assist everyone who has a stake in the educational process," said Kathy Facon, chief of the educational partnership.

Available online at http://www.militaryk12partners.dodea.edu, the guide offers information focused on specific stakeholder needs, Facon said.

"This guide provides military parents, military leaders and school leaders information on relevant educational issues affecting each group," she explained. "When local education agencies, military commands and DoDEA partner to share information and resources, children benefit."

For educators serving children from military families in a public school system, the guide offers information on the different military service branches, ranks, and protocols. It outlines current Defense Department initiatives to support schools and the Education Department's impact aid program. It also offers insights regarding the issues military families face, including frequent transitions and parents deploying.

For families, the guide offers information on navigating the U.S. education system, choosing a school and being an effective advocate for a child.

Military leaders visiting "Students at the Center" will find suggestions on supporting military families, forming and strengthening installation-school partnerships and ways to enhance communication between local education activities, the military services and families.

"The educational partnership is dedicated to every military child's right to a quality education regardless of their location or how often their family moves," Facon said. "We know that there are a lot of great resources already available regarding education issues for military families, but we wanted to develop a tool that would bring those resources together in one place."

The guide will be available in May and can be ordered in print format and on CD through the Military OneSource Web site.