EDUCATION 

We believe every military dependent deserves a quality education, a smooth transition through relocation, and equitable resources for special education and other services.

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School Liaisons are installation subject matter experts to families, installation leadership staff, and commanders who assist with all local Pre-K through grade 12 school issues and challenges facing military children. You can find your local School Liaison here

The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) operates 50 schools in seven states, Puerto Rico, and Cuba, and 64 schools in Germany, England, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Turkey, Bahrain, and Italy. In the Pacific, DoDEA operates 45 schools located in Korea, Japan, and Guam. DoDEA also operates a full time 9-12 virtual school option. Additionally, DoDEA administers the the Non-Department of Defense Schools Program (NDSP). NDSP provides educational support and financial assistance to eligible dependents to defray costs of education and to facilitate educational continuity in international locations where there is no DODEA school. DoDEA administers the Department of Defense Impact Aid Program as a supplement to the Federal Impact Aid Program and provides assistance to public school districts with specific concentrations of military-dependent children. To advance the lives of our military-connected students, the DoDEA relies on one true vision: “Excellence in Education for Every Student, Every Day, Everywhere.” The DoDEA Education Partnership Grant Program showcases this vision. Through our grant program, we are building partnerships that help military-connected students be college and career ready. By sharing resources, we can empower students to work toward clear, consistent, and high-reaching goals and exceed learning expectations in order to achieve rich, rigorous, and quality education opportunities.

Key Issues for Education include Purple Stars Schools Program, Advance Enrollment, Open Enrollment Flexibility, and In-State Tuition Continuity.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) helps you pay for school or job training. If you’ve served on active duty after September 10, 2001, you may qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33). Find out if you can get this education benefit.

The Compact addresses key educational transition issues encountered by military families including enrollment, placement, attendance, eligibility, and graduation. The Compact leverages consistency: It uses a comprehensive approach that provides a consistent policy in every school district and in every state that chooses to join.

DoD Starbase
DoD STARBASE is a premier educational program, sponsored by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. At DoD STARBASE students participate in challenging “hands-on, minds-on” activities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). They interact with military personnel to explore careers and observe STEM applications in the “real world.” The program provides students with 25 hours of stimulating experiences at National Guard, Marine, Air Force Reserve, Army, and Air Force bases across the nation.

Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC)

The Military Child Education Coalition is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that solely exists to help the military child thrive in the face of transition and separation. MCEC is dedicated to ensuring inclusive, quality educational experiences for all military-connected children affected by mobility, family separation, and transition. MCEC is a professional coalition with a diverse community consisting of public school districts, private schools, colleges and universities, small businesses and corporations, nonprofit organizations, military commands and installations, military families, and caring individuals from local communities across our nation.

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If you have additional resources that could benefit our military families or come across inaccurate or outdated information, please email us at thriveteam@fiveandthrive.org or use the form below.