RD422 - 2012 Annual Executive Summary of the Interim Activity and Work of the Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children - December 22, 2012

  • Published: 2012
  • Author: Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children
  • Enabling Authority: Code of Virginia - § 22.1-361

Executive Summary:
The Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children was created in 2009 to consider any and all matters related to the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. The Military Compact seeks to remove barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families because of frequent moves and deployment of their parents. The Compact addresses such issues as timely enrollment and placement, on-time graduation, and sharing of information between states to ensure a smooth transition for dependents of military families as they move in and out of public schools in the Commonwealth.

In nearly every community in Virginia, there are children with parents or guardians on active duty with the armed forces. The average military student faces transition challenges more than twice during high school and most military children will attend six to nine different school systems in their lives from kindergarten to 12th grade. The Compact therefore seeks to make transition easier for the children of military families so that they are afforded the same opportunities for educational success as other children and are not penalized or delayed in achieving their educational goals.

A key focus of the Virginia Council in 2012 was providing training for educators at the school level and military families on the components of the Compact and resources available to assist military connected students. The Virginia Council held three meetings in 2012, and has taken on many important issues related to the education of children of military families. The military family education liaison, on behalf of the Virginia Council, participated in numerous professional development events and trainings to spread the word about the Compact and answer questions about its implementation in the Commonwealth. This executive summary provides an overview of the work of the Council in 2012.