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254 Educational Opportunities for Military Children

Book: Policy Manual
Section: 200 Pupils
Title: Educational Opportunity for Military Children
Code: 254
Status: Active
Adopted: April 8, 2024
Last Revised: January 13, 2025
Last Reviewed: November 12, 2024

Purpose

The Board recognizes the challenges encountered by children of military families due to the frequent moves and deployment of their parents/guardians. The Board is committed to eliminating barriers to student attendance, education and graduation; and to providing additional supports to children of military families in compliance with federal and state laws, regulations and Board policy.

Definitions

Active duty – means full-time duty status in the active uniformed services of the United States, including members of the National Guard and reserve on active duty orders. [1] [2]

Children of military families - means a school-aged child, enrolled in kindergarten through twelfth grade, normally residing in the household of an active duty member or in accordance with applicable law. Specifically, this includes children of: [3] [4]

  1. Active duty members of the uniformed services.
  2. Members or veterans of the uniformed services who are severely injured and medically discharged or retired for a period of one (1) year after medical discharge or retirement.
  3. Members of the uniformed services who die on active duty or as a result of injuries sustained on active duty for a period of one (1) year after death.
  4. Members of the National Guard or reserve who are required to move to perform responsibilities in their service, which results in the child having to transfer from a public school in another state to a public school in this state. [4]

This does not include the children of: [3]

  1. Inactive members of the National Guard and military reserves.
  2. Members of the uniformed services now retired, except as otherwise stated in this policy.
  3. Veterans of the uniformed services, except as otherwise stated in this policy.
  4. Other United States Department of Defense personnel and other federal agency civilian and contract employees not defined as active duty members of the uniformed services.  

State Council – an entity to coordinate the state’s participation and compliance among its government agencies, school entities and military installations. [5]

Uniformed services – means the U.S. armed forces, Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service. [5]

U.S. armed forces – means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Space Force.

Authority

The Board directs the district to comply with the provisions of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (Compact) and this Board policy by: [3] [6]

1. Facilitating the timely enrollment of children of military families and ensuring that they are not placed at a disadvantage due to difficulty in the transfer of education records from previous school districts or variations in entrance/age requirements.[7][8][9][10]

2. Facilitating the student placement process through which children of military families are disadvantaged by variations in attendance requirements, scheduling, sequencing, grading, course content or assessment.[11][12][13][14][15]

3. Facilitating the qualification and eligibility for enrollment, educational programs and participation in extracurricular, academic, athletic and social activities.[16][17][18]

4. Facilitating the on-time graduation of children of military families.[19]

5. Providing for the promulgation and enforcement of administrative rules implementing the provisions of the Compact.

6. Providing for the uniform collection and sharing of information between and among states, schools and military families under the Compact.

7. Promoting coordination between the Compact and other compacts affecting military children.

8. Promoting flexibility and cooperation between the educational system, parents/guardians and the student in order to achieve educational success for the student.

Advance Enrollment

In addition to the provisions of the Compact, the district shall enroll children of a parent/guardian who is an active duty member of the U.S. armed forces, including a reserve component, that has received official military orders to transfer into or within Pennsylvania, prior to establishing residency in this district.[7][9] [20]

The parent/guardian shall provide the following:[7]

1. A copy of the official military order. [20] [21]

2. Proof of intent to move into this district, which may include: [20]

  • a. A signed contract to buy a home.
  • b. A signed lease agreement.
  • c. A statement from the parent/guardian stating their intent to move into the district.

Within forty-five (45) days after the arrival date specified in the military orders, the parent/guardian shall provide the district with proof of residence in this district. [20]

The Board shall ensure that children of military families have equal access to the same educational programs, activities and services provided to other district students.

Delegation of Responsibility

The Superintendent shall be authorized to waive specific requirements in Board policies, procedures and administrative regulations to the extent that they create barriers for the enrollment, placement and attendance of children of military families.[7][8][9][12][16][17][19] [22]

The Superintendent or designee shall collaborate with the military family education liaison designated by the State Council, school staff, sending schools, local agencies and other entities in supporting the needs of children of military families.

Guidelines

Children of military families enrolled in this district shall be provided support and services, as appropriate to each individual student’s needs, in accordance with the Compact and Board policy. [23][24][25][26][27]

Legal

1. 10 U.S.C. 12301 et seq
2. 10 U.S.C. 12401 et seq
3. 24 P.S. 7302
4. 24 P.S. 1184
5. 10 U.S.C. 101
6. 24 P.S. 7301
7. Pol. 200
8. Pol. 201
9. Pol. 202
10. Pol. 216
11. Pol. 127
12. Pol. 204
13. Pol. 206
14. Pol. 212
15. Pol. 215
16. Pol. 122
17. Pol. 123
18. Pol. 231
19. Pol. 217
20. 24 P.S. 1302.1
21. 24 P.S. 1302
22. Pol. 203
23. Pol. 103.1
24. Pol. 113
25. Pol. 114
26. Pol. 138
27. Pol. 918
Pol. 113.4
Pol. 115
Pol. 146
Pol. 209
Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (MIC3)