The Massachusetts Senate last week unanimously approved legislation extending benefits and increasing access to a range of services for military personnel, their families and veterans. The Valor Act would provide an array of benefits to help veterans and active military members obtain improved business, educational and housing opportunities …
In a letter sent in conjunction with the Month of the Military Child, Education Secretary Arne Duncan asks public school superintendents to better address the needs of military-connected students. “We want all military-connected school children to have an equal and fair opportunity for academic success. This requires that those individuals who make up our nation’s educational system — our teachers, principals, school nurses, coaches, and counselors — understand the unique situations the children of our service members experience …
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal last week signed legislation making the state the 42nd to adopt an interstate agreement ensuring the uniform treatment of military children transferring between school districts. The goal of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children is to make transition easier so that military children — who typically attend from six to nine different school systems from K-12 — are afforded the same opportunities as other children …
While the House Armed Services’ Readiness Subcommittee on Friday rejected the Pentagon’s request for two new BRAC rounds, at the same time it called for GAO to review how defense communities that experienced significant mission growth in the past handled the associated strains on their transportation infrastructure, schools, utilities and housing. “Now that the Department of Defense has completed its fifth BRAC round and the potential exists for future infrastructure, force structure and installation mission changes, local communities may once again have to manage potentially significant installation change …
Military families living on installations should have more flexibility to choose the schools for their children when they attend schools operated by local school systems, according to report language in the portion of the draft fiscal 2013 defense authorization bill to be marked up today by the House Armed Services’ Military Personnel Subcommittee. While some school systems allow families to choose the particular school their children attend through inter- or intra-district transfer programs, many do not and are assigned schools based on geographic boundaries …
A measure providing bond money from the state of Alabama to school districts affected by BRAC mission growth was approved in committee this week and is expected to go to the House floor shortly. House Bill 407 would make it easier for school systems to qualify for special renovation or construction bonds by removing the requirement for the schools to first raise their sales or property tax rates …
Wyoming earlier this month became the 41st state to adopt an interstate agreement intended to smooth the transition between school districts when military children move. The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children addresses key educational transition issues encountered by military families, including enrollment, placement, attendance, eligibility and graduation …
The city of Sierra Vista can support Fort Huachuca in a number of ways, with improving the reputation of the state’s public education system being the most urgent, Garrison Commander Col. Timothy Faulkner told city council members last week. While the installation’s missions leave it well positioned as DOD looks to trim spending over the next 10 years, the perception of Arizona schools has hurt the post’s efforts to recruit employees in some highly technical fields …
The Pentagon’s $11.2 billion budget request for military construction and family housing in fiscal 2013 supports a variety of projects, including upgrading DOD-owned schools and medical facilities, and investing in energy conservation, Dorothy Robyn, deputy undersecretary of defense for installations and environment, told lawmakers Wednesday. The request continues the recapitalization of DOD-owned schools, with $547 million to replace or renovate 11 schools in poor or failing condition …
The DOD Education Activity is offering a total of $25 million in grants to school systems that teach military-dependent students for programs that strengthen family engagement and improve student achievement. Awards for FY 2012 grants to Military-Connected Local Educational Agencies for Academic and Support Programs will be made to local educational agencies on behalf of their eligible schools …