Online Resources for Military Parents and Students Navigating Learning Amid Covid-19
In honor of April, the Month of the Military Child, Military Families for High Standards would like to share several online resources that could help military parents and students navigating learning amid the Covid-19 pandemic. As schools were forced to rapidly transition to online learning to keep students, educators, and their families safe, there is significant evidence that the quality of education has suffered. Although students are beginning to return to classrooms and summer is rapidly approaching, early statistics estimate that students may have lost as much as 6.8 months of learning or more. Many states and districts are suggesting summer programs to help mitigate students’ levels of learning loss. MFHS hopes that these resources may be helpful for military parents who wish to encourage some type of “catch up” for their children at home.
Due to a history of inconsistent academic standards in states across the country, a concerning number of students are graduating from high school unable to meet the academic requirements to join the military.
Additionally, the U.S. military is deeply concerned about the damaging impact that low and inconsistent educational standards are having on the families of current service members. Gen. Ray Odierno, former Army Chief of Staff, ordered that the performance of schools near a base will be an important consideration in any future installation changes or base realignments.
AN INTRO TO IMPACT AID - National Association of Federally Impacted Schools
NAFIS has released an explanatory video detailing the federal impact aid program, a federal education program that reimburses school districts for the lost revenue and additional costs associated with the presence of nontaxable Federal property, like military installations. To learn more about Impact Aid, please visit www.nafisdc.org.
A Military family’s Guide to the School liaison prograM
Each military service has a dedicated set of civilians who serve as liaisons between families, individual schools and installation leadership — School Liaisons, which are sometimes called School Liaison Officers. One of the top concerns that military families raise when receiving new orders that require relocation is ensuring a quality K–12 education for their children. School Liaisons can play an important role in guiding military families to essential resources and helping them transition from one community to another. While School Liaisons serve as facilitators between school districts, military installations and families, there can be confusion or frustration when requests fall outside the scope of their role.
Working with the School Liaison leadership across military services, Military Families for High Standards has created a short guide to what School Liaisons can do for families as they move into a new community. The information was gleaned from a detailed questionnaire we provided to senior School Liaison leaders in the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. We hope it is helpful for families in transition.
Join the Military Families for High Standards at the 2019 Congressional Military Family Caucus Summit
MFHS is pleased to participate in this year’s Congressional Military Family Caucus Summit. Please join Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Chairs of the Military Family Caucus, to discuss very important issues military families across our nation face daily. The goal of the Summit is to examine issues such as education, childcare, healthcare, spousal employment, and the effects of multiple deployments to ensure our nation’s military families have the support they need and can access the resources they deserve. We hope that you can attend.
Congressional Military Family Caucus Summit
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center located in Columbus, GA
8:30 AM
To learn more about the Summit, click the button below to read a letter from the Chairs of the Military Family Caucus.
2019 MFHS Spring Update
We are pleased to provide this Spring UpDate and highlight our recent progress and accomplishments. The tireless energy of our supporters has created an impressive resume of influential opinions, insightful suggestions, valuable tools and critical data that is shaping the educational conversations that influence the quality of education for our military children.
A MILITARY FAMILY'S GUIDE TO SCHOOL TRANSITIONS
Moving to a new post can spark anxiety in military families over the quality of the schools in and around a military installation. But families with children in preschool through high school can take certain actions to mitigate these concerns and help their children transition effectively to a new school.
This guide has been compiled by military spouses with decades of experience in an effort to help simplify that process.
Better serving those who serve: improving the educational opportunities of military-connected students
For the more than 1 million school-aged children in public schools that have a parent serving active duty in the United States military, access to a high-quality education can be problematic.
With that in mind, the Lexington Institute’s new report, “Better Serving Those Who Serve: Improving the Educational Opportunities of Military-Connected Students,” examines the overwhelming shortage of high-quality education opportunities for military-connected students across the country.
Taking a look at military-connected student education in four states – Colorado, Missouri, North Carolina, and Virginia – the report identifies areas of strength and opportunities for growth when it comes to educating military-connected students, who move 2 to 3 times more frequently than their civilian peers during their K-12 education.
Read more:
-Military Times: “Study: Academic performance varies widely among districts serving military students”
-Washington Post: “When troops worry about their kids’ schools, our military suffers”
-Inside Sources: “How Can We Improve Educational Opportunities for Students in Military Families?”
-The Virginian-Pilot: “Lack of quality school choices are hurting military families. Is open enrollment a solution?”
-Fayetteville Observer: “North Carolina an example to improve education for military children, think tank says”
-Fox News Opinion: “Military families deserve high-quality educational offerings. They’re not always getting them”
The Connection between K-12 Education Standards and the Military-Base Economy
A report by the Stimson Center, an internationally-recognized Washington, D.C.-based think tank, put a stake in the ground about the military, and local communities should be concerned about the quality of local schools. The June 2015 study, The Army Goes to School: The Connection between K-12 Education Standards and the Military-Base Economy, found that the quality of education available to soldiers’ children could be a retention issue for the Army.
– Military Times: “Poor Quality of Schools Could Cost Military Communities”
– The Daily Caller: “New Report Finds that School Standard Might Impact Military Base Closures”
– Fayetteville Observer: “New Report: Education Standards Could Impact Future Army Cuts”
BETTER SERVING THE CHILDREN OF OUR SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN
How the Common Core Improves Education for Military-Connected Children
States across the country have always established their own academic standards, curricula, and achievement goals. This inconsistency, however, creates problems for children from military families, who must move and change schools frequently as their parents are reassigned. For these children, moving from state to state not only has significant social and emotional challenges, it also complicates their education. It is critical for states to minimize the strain that moving has on these children; adopting and effectively implementing the Common Core State Standards would ensure that as students change schools, their education is consistent and of high quality.