The Virginia Department of Education, in collaboration with the Virginia National Guard Family Assistance Center, has developed this Web site to provide educators with easy access to resources on children of mobilized military personnel.

Since September 11, 2001 more than 3,360 soldiers of the Virginia Army National Guard and 1,085 airmen of the Virginia Air National Guard have entered active federal service. In addition, thousands of Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard reservists and fulltime personnel from Virginia posts and bases are serving far from home or facing the prospect of lengthy deployments overseas.

In nearly every community in Virginia, there are children with parents or guardians on active duty with the armed forces. The mobilization of a National Guard or reserve unit in one city, town, or county can affect students in school divisions across the state. Teachers, school counselors, and administrators must be prepared to respond to the instructional and counseling needs of these students.

Thousands of Virginians are making great sacrifices to protect our freedoms and provide security and hope in distant lands. Virginia's public schools are committed to the care and education of the children these brave men and women have left behind.

Policy, Guidance, Legislation, and Resolutions of the General Assembly:

House Bill 1443 (Ensures that students whose parents are deployed outside the United States will continue to be admitted to public schools in the Commonwealth without tuition.)

Senate Joint Resolution 115 and House Joint Resolution 278 (Recognizing and supporting members of the National Guard and Reserve by conducting awareness programs and by holding Military Appreciation Day and other ceremonies.)

Supporting Our Troops and Their Families in Virginia (March 26, 2003 Resolution of the Board of Education)

Enrollment of Children of Military Personnel Temporarily Relocated Due to Deployment to Active Military Operations (October 9, 2001 Superintendent’s Memo)

Links to Organizations:

Virginia National Guard
Virginia Air National Guard
National Guard Family Program
Defend America (Department of Defense)

Resources and Web sites:

Working with Military Children – A Primer for School Personnel (Virginia Joint Military Services Board)

Military Family Research Institute – Deployment Support Resources
Tips for Parents and Care Providers of Preschool Children
Tips for Parents and Teachers of Elementary School Children
Tips for Parents and Teachers of Middle School Children
Tips for Parents and Teachers of Teens

Resilience in Time of War (American Psychological Association)

Militarystudent.org (Includes Information on Promising Practices for Meeting the
Instructional and Counseling Needs of Children of Deployed Military Personnel)

National Child Traumatic Stress Network (Resources for Parents, Counselors, and Teachers)

How Communities Can Support the Children and Families of those Serving in the National Guard or Reserves (Military Child Education Coalition)

(Photographs courtesy Virginia National Guard)