SCHOOL TRANSITIONS AN EDUCATIONAL ODYSSEY FOR MILITARY FAMILIES
By Stacy Allsbrook-Huisman
Military families have a unique view of education in America.
Military-connected students rarely start or finish their K-12 education in the same school district, let alone the same state. The average military family moves every one to three years. Some of those moves are from one state to another, while others are overseas. With each move, many military service members bring their family to resettle into new communities and attend new schools.
With this unique view comes a unique challenge: because education in this country is funded and run by each individual state, curriculum and services vary wildly.
It’s no surprise that with more than 1.1 million military-connected students attending schools, issues surrounding school transition have become a top priority for families and some schools. Mobile military students face gaps and overlaps in curriculum, different graduation requirements, course placement disruption and many other hurdles when changing schools.
Families with special needs students experience the extra stress of transfers if their children have either an Individualized Education Program or a so-called 504 plan, a blueprint for how a school will provide support and remove barriers for a student. Parents hope with each move they will be able to continue the needed services, but it’s hit or miss.
Besides academic and services issues, students face the social and emotional challenges of relocation such as leaving supportive social networks and activities and having to rebuild them in a new school community.
For Military families, finding the right community and school for their kids is often at the top of their house hunting list. As soon as they receive orders to relocate or PCS (Permanent Change of Station), they leave no stone unturned in researching the best school for the unique lifestyle of military-connected students which also offers a quality education and resources.
Parents also know that although schools near military installations register large numbers of new military-connected students year-round, they may not necessarily have the best tools or resources to support transitioning students.
PURPLE STAR SCHOOL DESIGNATION GAINS TRACTION AMONG STATES
So how can a military family know if they’ve found a school that can provide this unique niche in education?
The good news is that in a handful of states families can now search for schools that have been designated as military family friendly. These designations may be called a Purple Star School, Purple Star Campus or Military Flagship School - depending on the state. This recognition is awarded to military-friendly schools that show a major commitment to students and families connected to our nation’s military. Schools that earn the award will receive a special Purple Star recognition to display onsite. Military families look for schools with these designations when researching communities because they offer a first indicator that a school will recognize and support the needs of military-connected students.
The concept of Purple Star Schools is the brainchild of Pete LuPiba, Ohio’s Commissioner for Military Children Interstate Compact Commission (MIC3). Serving as Commissioner since 2012, LuPiba represents Ohio’s commitment to the Military Interstate Children's Compact. Signed by all 50 states, the compact replaces the widely varying policies affecting transitioning military students. Focused on consistency, it uses a comprehensive approach that provides a consistent policy in every school district and in every state.
But LuPiba, also a Navy veteran, wanted to go above and beyond the compact guidelines in Ohio. To that end, in 2016 he gathered community leaders and those most invested in the military-connected students to discuss the best ways Ohio schools could show their commitment to military families. From this process, he conceived the Purple Star School designation.
To receive the designation, Ohio schools must meet the following:
· Specific school staff must be designated as a point of contact or liaison for military students and families.
· Designated staff liaisons must have professional development training on military-connected student issues.
· A designated section on the school’s website must feature resources and information for military families.
· The school must show at least one additional activity -- such as professional development beyond the required training, a school board resolution in support of military children, and/or a school event demonstrating a military-friendly culture.
Ohio schools jumped at the chance to demonstrate their support for military families. LuPiba can now boast that 191 (and counting) Ohio schools have applied and received the Purple Star designation. That's nearly 200 public schools that have demonstrated an understanding of the challenges facing military kids and have committed to being better prepared to support them.
INSPIRING OTHER STATES TO HELP MILITARY FAMILIES WITH K-12 EDUCATION NEEDS
LuPiba’s program has inspired other states to create similar designations allowing schools to prove themselves military-friendly and supportive. Virginia, Arkansas, South Carolina and Tennessee have all taken a page out of the Ohio Purple Star playbook.
Virginia is an important state considering it is home to one of the largest military populations and has some of the best school districts in the country. It has 27 military installations and has nearly 120,000 active duty and reserve members. The Virginia Department of Education requires schools to have similar requirements for Purple Star School designation as Ohio but takes it a few steps further.
Its program requires additional information on the school website regarding enrollment and disenrollment, academic planning, graduation requirements, special needs and parent rights - all of which is information crucial to military families transitioning schools. There are currently 66 public and private Purple Star schools in Virginia, but many more schools are expected to be added by the end of 2019.
Texas and Washington have also decided to formally identify military-friendly schools through their legislation process. These programs are in the early stages but should be up and running by 2020.
In Georgia, the Georgia Department of Education created a program similar to Purple Star schools with their Military Flagship Schools. However, their requirements incorporate a mix of inclusive outreach and MIC3 Compact guidelines. There are currently six Military Flagship Schools in the state and, according to their website, each school offers unique outreach to military families such as excused absences for deployments, online registration for incoming students from overseas and a buddy system linking new military students with other military students.
Military families are hopeful that the Purple Star school trend will continue to expand across state boundaries. Many states such as New Mexico, California and Florida are considering starting their own Purple Star School Program or equivalent. Other school districts may not be part of an official program, but nevertheless also offer support and resources for military families.
Designating or flagging schools as military friendly will continue to act as a compass for the hundreds of thousands of military-connected students experiencing school transition. Families will know before they register that school staff have been briefed on the Military Child Interstate Compact guidelines, have a designated point of contact for questions and offer additional programs or services to their military families.
Although the designation cannot not remove every challenge faced by students transitioning into a new school, at least families know the school understands their unique lifestyle and the obstacles that come with it.
Allsbrook-Huisman is an Air Force spouse and advocate for military-connected children and their families. She is co-author of Seasons of My Military Student: Practical Ideas for Parents and Teachers and is a featured writer for Military Spouse Magazine. A member of Military Families for High Standards, her articles have also appeared on the popular blog Scary Mommy and search site Niche.com. Stacy also started the military family website dedicated to education transition Families on the Homefront. She can be reached at stacyhuisman@gmail.com.