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States join forces to aid military students

Delaware is about to make history for military children when it becomes the 10th state to sign an interstate compact that could dramatically improve educational opportunities and transitions for military kids on the move.

Ten is the magic number of states required for the compact to become what is known as an “active agreement.” In addition to the states that have adopted the compact, 12 others have introduced legislation.

Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner is scheduled to sign the legislation into law July 16, said spokeswoman Kate Bailey.

Through the compact, the states will work together to address issues in four general areas: enrollment, placement, eligibility and graduation.

Once Delaware comes aboard, the process of activating the compact begins, which is expected to take about 18 months. That includes creating an interstate commission on education opportunity for military children, with one voting representative from each of the 10 states.

For states that subsequently join the effort, the compact becomes effective once each state enacts it in law.

Among other things, the states enacting the compact agree to:

* Provide a complete set of unofficial education records to parents, with uniform information agreed to by the commission, when official records cannot be released to parents. Schools then will enroll and place students based on the information in the unofficial records, pending validation by official records.

* Allow 30 days from the date of enrollment, or a time determined by the commission, for students to get any required immunizations.

* Allow students in kindergarten and first grade to continue their enrollment at the same grade level in a new school, regardless of age. States have different age requirements for entering school.

* Allow initial placement in courses based on a student’s enrollment in a previous school — such as honors, International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement or vocational.

* Provide initially comparable services to a student with disabilities based on their current Individualized Education Program and make reasonable changes and accommodations to address the needs of incoming students with disabilities.

* Give local education officials flexibility to waive course prerequisites or other conditions for placement in courses and programs.

* Provide additional excused absences, at the discretion of local education officials, for a child to visit with a parent or legal guardian who has immediately returned from deployment to, or is on leave from, a combat zone or combat-support posting.

* Give transitioning military children opportunities to take part in extracurricular activities, even if they arrive at their new school after application deadlines.

* Offer waivers for specific courses required for graduation if similar course work has been satisfactorily completed in another jurisdiction.

* Accept exit or end-of-course exams required for graduation from the previous state.

* Do everything possible to facilitate graduation for students transferring during their senior year — to include getting a diploma from a previous school district if a student meets requirements.

“We’re very pleased with the quick pace of progress,” said Keith Scott, director of the national center for interstate compacts at the Council of State Governments.

“The first state came on board in April, and here we are on the verge of the tenth,” Scott said. “I believe this says the states have recognized there’s a common-sense solution to a long set of problems that have plagued military members and their children.”

States that have adopted the compact are Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri and Oklahoma.

Joyce Raezer, chief operating officer of the National Military Family Association, who was on the six-member committee that drafted the interstate compact, said she went into the process knowing nothing about interstate compacts.

“Now I am sold,” she said. “We’ve always talked about where the power is on these issues — it’s at the state and local level. They already work together on so many other issues, it made sense.”

Scott said defense officials approached the Council of State Governments in early 2006 about the possibility of an interstate compact to address education and transition issues of military children.

“The compact is an agreement between the states, and among the states, that they will handle these critical issues in the same way,” said Leslye Arsht, who became deputy undersecretary of defense for military community and family policy in February 2006, and has worked to improve educational opportunities for military children.

She spoke in a video clip on the Web site of the Council of State Governments about the need for the interstate compact.

She said defense officials have worked for several decades on educational and transition issues for military children.

“But we’ve never had the comprehensive, systematic approach that would allow us nationwide, state to state and district to district, to know what best practice is and how to implement it. That’s what the compact is.”

Military children have faced numerous obstacles, such as having to take repetitive courses to meet states’ requirements, said Joy Dunlap, deputy director of government relations for military family issues for the Military Officers Association of America.

“When military kids have to move and start over in so many ways, their future opportunities should not be limited because of differing requirements,” she said. “I think the states that have initially signed on to the compact go to the head of the class, or in this case, the country.

“They are looking out for military children,” she continued. “We hope other states will sign on when their legislatures meet in session.”

Defense Department-run schools on domestic military bases are not included in the compact, Raezer said, but the committee has recommended that the department explore a future agreement with states.

DISCUSS: The education compact