As the beginning of the school year approaches, teachers and school personnel need to prepare for the arrival of new military-connected students who are experiencing geographic transitions. Fortunately, there are strategies that can be implemented to help these students feel welcome in your school. We offer free online training to help administrators, school psychologists, school counselors, teachers, and other school personnel prepare for and work with military-connected students. Below, find links to the training courses and brief descriptions of the content that is covered in each course:
Learning Modules
Military and Schools
- Understand the challenges that military-connected students may face.
- Understanding the different types of military work-related parental absences that may impact military-connected students.
- Understand and identify different resources to help support military-connected students and their families.
Geographic Transitions
- Recognize the risk factors and protective factors that can influence students who are experiencing geographic transitions.
- Understand how military-specific geographic transitions can affect students.
- Support military-connected students who may be experiencing geographic transitions using both formal and informal methods.
Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children
- Describe and identify military-connected students who are protected underneath the Interstate Compact.
- Describe and recognize legal requirements schools and educators need to consider when working with a student transitioning due to family members’ military orders.
- Describe and recognize legal requirements that apply to any state-specific legislation in regard to special education services in regards to military-connected students protected under the Interstate Compact.
The resources, below, can help you prepare to welcome new military-connected students to your school:
Military-Connected Student Enrollment Form
- To fully support all military-connected students, schools need to identify these students. Schools could do this by including military-specific questions on their enrollment forms. See the example document.
A Guide to the Interstate Compact for Schools and Local School Districts
- This guide was developed by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) to inform and guide schools and local school districts when working with military-connected students that are protected under the Interstate Compact.
Risk and Protective Factors for Mobile Students
- How a student responds, positively or negatively, to transitions may be due to risk factors and protective factors. Recognizing these factors and understanding how these factors can support or undermine students’ well-being can help you better champion mobile students.
Thank you for all you do to support military-connected students. We hope these resources are useful in your professional practice. If you have questions or need help, visit the Contact Us page to reach out to us. If you would like to receive updates about new trainings or resources, sign up for our Mailing List.