DURING THIS BACK-TO-SCHOOL-PERIOD, HERE ARE A FEW TOP TIPS FOR MILITARY FAMILIES

Changing schools is not always easy. Curricula and standards vary from state to state and grade-level or graduation requirements are not always the same. Some schools mark the year with semesters, while others use quarters. Staying on top of your child’s school career while moving through different and varied systems can be a real challenge for military parents.

This piece was originally published on September 17, 2019 on Medium. The original post is accessible here.

Military Parents: Here’s Why You Should Study Up on States’ School Improvement Efforts.

We all know how stressful a new move can be. There are many unknowns: you may not know what the community will be like and or how you tackle the many changes that come with new PCS orders. With many things top of mind, you may be wondering how this move will impact your child’s education and or how your child’s new school district fares against others.

This piece was originally published on April 14, 2019 on Medium. The original post is accessible here.

Q&A WITH MILITARY FAMILIES FOR HIGH STANDARDS’ CHRISTI HAM ON THE ADC INNOVATION FORUM

To recap, I told Military Families for High Standards about the conversations I engaged with there and lessons I learned from the event (scroll to read).

I hope it is helpful information for you on how critical partnerships between base and district leadership are for helping military-connected students succeed.

This piece was originally published on March 11, 2019 on Medium. The original post is accessible here.

Effective Communication Between Military Families and Local Education Leaders Can Make All the Difference

By Col. Glen Butler

In a 2006 National School Public Relations Association report titled, “How Strong Communication Contributes to Student and School Success: Parent and Family Involvement,” researchers found that “effective family involvement has a positive impact on students, families, and the schools, not only on testing performance but also class attendance and “improved behavior at home and at school.” Continue reading by clicking “read here.”

This piece was originally published on February 26, 2019 on Medium. The original post is accessible here.

Armed with more information about schools, military families can take action to improve them

In a recent blog, I highlighted many ways that you could help share Military Families for High Standards’ message from becoming familiar with the Military Student Identifier (MSI) to learning about school improvement. Continue by clicking “read more.”

This piece was originally published on January 24, 2019 on Medium. The original post is accessible here.

’Tis the month of December

’Tis the month of December and all through the land,
Folks are bundled and snuggled, hot coco in hand.
Families gather together, from both near and far–
Reunited after journeys by plane, train, and car.

This piece was originally published on December 20, 2018 on Medium. The original post is accessible here.

The Twelve Ways of Sharing

There are so many things Military Families for High Standards is involved with right now! And I encourage you to explore them, learn about those that interest you most, and share these with all those you are involved with to better spread our message to military families and community leaders.

This piece was originally published on December 11, 2018 on Medium. The original post is accessible here.

When the Orders Come from Headquarters

Military families move a lot. Given the average time of station is between 18 and 24 months, the average military family knows not to set down too deep a set of roots in any community. They know that routines and friendships with civilian families can be fleeting because they are never too far away from a new set of orders from the Pentagon telling them to pick up and move again. Continue reading here -

This piece was originally published on June 04, 2018 on Medium. The original post is accessible here.

A Brief History of the Military Student Identifier

A few months ago, I wrote a piece for HuffPost titled “The Military Student Identifier (MSI) May be a Game Changer for Helping Military Connected Children.” In the article, I argued that “the MSI holds great promise. If states implement it correctly and utilize the information in provides, then it will be key to helping us achieve our mission of lessening the burdens on military-connected children.”

That’s certainly a lot to expect from a new tool. Continue reading here -

This piece was originally published on May 03, 2018 on Medium. The original post is accessible here.

Recognizing the Progress We’ve Made over the Past Two Years

As we celebrate the Month of the Military Child, I am reminded of the numerous stories I have heard about the challenges the sons and daughters of our armed forces face because of one (or both) of their parent’s service. Often these stories revolve around the family having to move so often. Many are heart-breaking.

Unfortunately, it’s a fact of life that military children move, and they move a lot. Given the average time on station is somewhere between 18 months and two years, that means a military-connected child can expect to attend six to nine schools between starting kindergarten and graduating high school. Click here to read more.

This piece was originally published on April 09, 2018 on Medium. The original post is accessible here.

The Slings and Arrows Of Inconsistent Education Standards Greet Military Families from Installation to Installation

There are 1.2 million military-connected children in K-12 public schools. Military-connected students are a unique student group, moving on average every two to three years during their academic journey. This blog piece highlights the story of “Michael.” The story of “Michael” is a totem for many military families. Michael is every military child — because so many military families endure similar obstacles in ensuring a quality education for their children while moving so many times. Click “read more” to view the full story.

This piece was originally published on February 13, 2018 on Medium. The original post is accessible here.