Military & Department of Defense (DOD)
Special Education
Military Education l Autism l Suspension & Expulsion l Transition l Caselaw
Resources l Articles l Publications
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 Children whose parents are active in any of the branches of the military often have
a rather non-traditional educational experience. These children transfer schools
often and sometimes attend school overseas. Although military children
may not be educated in the U.S., they are still entitled to a Free, Appropriate
Public Education (FAPE).
The information on the Military and Department of Defense page describe various aspects of a military special education education and the unique issues these children face, including frequent transfers in and out of schools with
different levels of instructional programming, and the emotional
issues that accompany the deployment of family members.
 To learn how you can support military service men and women and their families, please see Be A Hero...To A Hero: Support Our Troops.
In September, our son Jason was deployed to Iraq. Like many of you, we are frustrated about the wars. Like many of you, we said "We support the troops." We asked ourselves, "What have we done to 'support the troops?'" The painful answer: "Not much."
After this, we spent a great deal of time on the Internet. We wanted to learn all we could about how ordinary people - like us and you - could support the young men and women who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Read A Message from Pete and Pam Wright
Military & Department of Defense Education
Department
of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA)
DoDEA operates over
200 public schools in 15 districts located in 13 foreign countries, seven states,
Guam, and Puerto Rico. All schools within DoDEA are fully accredited by U.S. accreditation
agencies. Approximately 8,785 teachers serve DoDEA's 102,600 students.
DoDEA
Special Education
In DoDEA's Community Strategic Plan, the vision statement,
the mission statement and the guiding principles each embrace the notion that
ALL students will be successful in our schools. Special education is specially
designed instruction, support, and services provided to students with an identified
disability requiring an individually designed instructional program to meet their
unique learning needs. The purpose of special education is to enable students
to successfully develop to their fullest potential by providing a free appropriate
public education in compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (IDEA) as implemented by DoD Instruction 1342.12, "Provision of Early
Intervention and Special Education Services to Eligible DoD Dependents."
Learn more about eligibility categories and much more on this page.
DoDEA Special Education Parent Rights for Special Education
State-by-State
Education Resource Center
On this page you can select a state to find
information relevant to that state. You can refine your search by then selecting
options such as "special education", "assessment", "curriculum"
and more.
Children's Safety: Helping Your Child Deal with Bullying *
Ways to help
when your child is being bullied or is bullying others. This article includes
information on: Helping your child cope with a bully, Discouraging your child
from bullying others, and When bullying occurs at school.
Changing Schools and IEPs - 1 week, 1 month, 90 Days? When a child transfers schools, when must the new school provide services in the IEP? Find out what IDEA 2004 says about providing comparable services for children who transfer.
Checklist
for Transferring Students
Youth Programs and Summer Camps for Military Kids
Articles
from Military One Source *
Audio
Files from Military One Source *
*You must first register and login to
http://www.militaryonesource.com before being able to access this premium,
free content from Military One Source Online.
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Autism
Health & Special Education Services for Military Children with Autism. Based on the most recent prevalence data that 1 in 150 children have an autism spectrum disorder, as many as 12,000 children in military families (active duty, reserve and guard) may have autism. These families are affected substantially by the financial and emotional costs of raising a child with autism.
Early Intervention, Treatment of Autism Essential for Children from the Military Health System Blog.
Suspension & Expulsion
Advocating
in Schools: Suspension/Expulsion of a Child with a Disability * Listen Now:
Windows Media Version or
Real Media Version
A school district may suspend a child with a disability who receives special education
services under the Individual with Disabilities Education Act for up to ten consecutive
days. However, a series of short-term suspensions in a school year which cumulate
to more than ten days may be improper depending on several factors.
Parent Involvement at School: When a School Disciplines Your Child: Understanding
Your Rights *
What you need to know if your child is facing school disciplinary
action. This article includes information on: Types of discipline, Know the rules
and consequences, Zero-tolerance offenses, Your child's right to due process,
The hearing and appeals process, Should you hire a lawyer?, and Being an effective
advocate for your child. *You
must first register and login to http://www.militaryonesource.com
before being able to access this premium, free content from Military One Source
Online.
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Transition and Transferring Schools
 Military Students on the Move. This "Toolkit for Military Parents" is one of three Toolkits prepared by the Department of Defense to
help parents, installation commanders, and school leaders make the education transition for
military children as smooth as possible.
Special Education information is found on p.15 featuring resources including the Wrightslaw Yellow Pages for Kids.
Download Toolkit (The is a large PDF file, so please allow time for the toolkit to load.)
Tips for Parents: Relocating and Special Education Records from Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools (DDESS).
 Free online tool for military students in transition. State assessments and on-line tutorials for military students and their classmates. You can also visit the SOAR website by clicking here.
Watch the video about the SOAR program from the Military Impacted Schools Association.
SOAR - Student Online Achievement Resources. This new web site will allow children from military families to compare states' academic standards and take a free online test to identify the gaps in their understanding as they move to a new state with different testing and curriculum.
Website targets...'military brats'.
"Web site aims to make transitions to new schools easier for children of military families." by Dennis Carter, eSchoolNews (June 18, 2008).
School Quest. Designed for military families, SchoolQuest is organized so that you can access information that the MCEC has gathered to help you make decisions on future schools for your children. SchoolQuest also offers an Online Library that provides resources for families in transition. Watch the HTML video.
Caselaw
G. v. Fort Bragg Dependent Schools (4th Cir. 2003). ABA/Lovaas case; rights of children who attend Dept of Defense schools; FAPE & educational benefit; methodology; reimbursement for home-based Lovaas program; procedural safeguards and notice by parents; compensatory education for failure to provide FAPE; prevailing party status & attorneys fees (pdf)
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Resources
The
Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC)
The Military Child Education Coalition
is a non-profit, world-wide organization that identifies the challenges that face
the highly mobile military child, increases awareness of these challenges in military
and educational communities and initiates and implements programs to meet the
challenges.
This site includes information on moving, transferring students, deployment,
and scholarships, and includes links to military organizations devoted to the
military family.
The MCEC offers the Special Education Leaders Institute to help leaders in both the education and military communities understand the concerns of military-connected special needs students and develop ways to support them during transitions.
STOMP is a Parent Training and Information Center for military families providing support, advice, and training to military parents whose children have special challenges. Here you can interact with parents who have already experienced much of what you are going through. They are happy to help.
Military Impacted Schools Association
Military Impacted Schools Association
is a partnership with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Active, National Guard and Reserve
components, and U.S. Coast Guard to guarantee a continuum of quality education
for the Military Child -- no matter where the parent is assigned.
National Military Family Association
(NMFA)
The National Military Family Association's primary goals are to educate
military families concerning their rights, benefits and services available to
them and to inform them regarding the issues that affect their lives; and to promote
and protect the interests of military families by influencing the development
and implementation of legislation and policies affecting them. This Web site includes
information, articles, resources, and web links on deployment, education, family
life, family member benefits, health care, and money management.
Military K-12 Partners
As military families move to accept new assignments, children often face many challenges related to education. The Interstate Compact on Education Opportunity for Military Children is working to remove barriers to educational success for children of military members.
New! Military Youth on the Move
Moving Out Moving Up Moving On. Advice for elementary school, middle school, and high school kids covering all stages of
a military move.
 Military OneSource
This free 24-hour service, provided by the Department
of Defense, is available to all active duty, Guard, and Reserve members and their
families. Consultants provide information and make referrals on a wide range of
issues. You can reach the program by telephone at 1-800-342-9647.
MilitaryHOMEFRONT is the official Department of Defense website for quality of
life information as it pertains to troops & their family members with special
needs, Leadership and Service Providers. Please browse the navigation links on
the left to connect relevant topics, such as our Family Connections Forum for
families with special needs, State Resources, A-Z Disability Resources and Family
Stories. MilitaryHOMEFRONT works hard at providing you with the most comprehensive information designed specifically for military families with special needs.
MilitaryHOMEFRONT Exceptional Family Member Program
Special Needs Parent Toolkit
Special Needs Parent Toolkit (free download)
Military Home Front Tool
Box
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Publications
IFSP
Process Document (IFSP-PD) and Handbook
(PDF)
This military document makes it easier for service providers to understand
how to help families identify their needs and priorities, as well as actually
making the IFSP meaningful to the family and the child. The handbook begins with
how we market the purpose of Early Intervention Services (EIS) and continues through
Transition. The RBI starts on page 25 and there is a sample completed IFSP (including
the RBI). The IFSP Process document begins at Appendix 2, page 2. Family-Centered
Early Intervention Services in Natural Environments: A Closer Look for Educational
and Developmental Intervention Services (EDIS) Early Intervention (PDF)
Reaching
and Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Best Practices Guide
(PDF)
The Department of Defense Education Activity has developed a guide for
those working with students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The purpose
of the Best Practices Guide is to help all understand students with ASD better
and to provide information about appropriate educational strategies and programming
including environmental structures, communication and social skill development,
and behavioral management. Most of the strategies presented in this guide are
beneficial to a variety of students with special needs.
Support to Civilian Schools Educating Military Children
Working with Military Children
— A Primer for School Personnel
An Educator's Guide to the Military Child During Deployment
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Last revised: 05/21/09 |
