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Virginia Department of Education

Information on this page is provided by the Superintendent of Public Instruction

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Student & Family Services

Military Families

In nearly every community in Virginia, there are children with parents or guardians on active duty with the armed forces. In fact, Virginia leads the nation – with nearly 80,000 – in the number of students with military ties. Virginia's public schools are committed to the care and education of the children these brave men and women have left behind.

VDOE, in collaboration with a number of military authorities, provides resources concerning children of mobilized military personnel for families and educators.

Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children

The Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (Virginia Council) was formed to assist in easing the transition of the children of military families into school as a result of frequent moves and deployment of their parents. Created by the 2009 General Assembly, Virginia joins other states participating in the compact.

Guidance Documents for Military Families

• Guidance for Enrollment in Kindergarten for Military Children – July 15, 2011, Superintendent’s Memo
• Providing Flexibility to Military Transfer Students to Facilitate On-Time Graduation – April 29, 2011, Superintendent’s Memo
• Guidance for Treating Students Transferring from Department of Defense (DOD) Schools for the Purpose of Implementing the Interstate Compact – April 15, 2011, Superintendent’s Memo
• Alternate Provisions for Military Transfer Students to Meet Graduation Requirements – April 1, 2011, Superintendent’s Memo
• Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children – August 10, 2010, Principals’ Memo
• Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children – August 6, 2010, Superintendent’s Memo

• Provisions of Services to LEP Students: An update from VDOE (PPT) – October 16, 2009, includes Definition of "immigrant" as it pertains to the children of military personnel born overseas.

• Children on Military Personnel Relocated to Military Housing – September 1, 2006, Superintendent’s Memo
• School Enrollment of Children of Military Personnel Temporarily Relocated Due to Deployment to Active Military Operations – October 9, 2001, Superintendent’s Memo
• School Enrollment of Children of Military Personnel Temporarily Relocated Due to Deployment to Active Military Operations (PDF) – October 4, 2001, analysis by attorney general of Virginia 

Legislation & Resolutions

• § 22.1-360. Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children
• § 22.1-361. Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children
• 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 (PDF) – March 26, 2003, Board of Education resolution

School Liaison Officers

The Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps all have school liaison officers to coordinate and assist military families with educational opportunities and information necessary to succeed in an academic environment. They communicate and provide assistance between the school system, the military and the military families. School liaison officers also network, educate and work in partnership with local schools to provide caring adults to enhance the education experience. They play an important role as a subject matter expert of an instillation, helping military commanders with the support necessary to coordinate and advise military parents of school-aged children, and to solve education-related problems. School liaison officers promote parental involvement in their children’s education, develop and coordinate partnerships in education and educate local communities and schools regarding the needs of military children.

• Contact your School Liaison Officer (PDF)
• Contact your local School Division or School

Outside Resources

• Letter to Superintendents from Secretary Duncan regarding Children of Military-Connected Families – Information from the US Department of Education regarding the need for flexibility related to school attendance policies.
• A Toolkit About Military Teens – information from the National Military Family Association (NMFA)

• Students at the Center – information for military families, military leaders and school leaders from the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA)

• A Fresh Glance at the Emotional Cycles of Deployment – information for families of soldiers before, during and after deployment as well as tips for dealing with multiple deployments from the US Army’s HOOAH 4 Health

• Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3) – information from the Council of State Governments

• Military Child Education Coalition – includes resources and contacts for military families
• How to Prepare our Children and Stay Involved in Their Education During Deployment (PDF) – information to help deployed parents from the Military Child Education Coalition
• How Communities can Support the Children and Families of those serving in the National Guard or Reserves (PDF) – from the Military Child Education Coalition
• MilitaryOneSource.com – includes resources on education, relocation, parenting, stress and other topics and is provided by the Department of Defense for active-duty, National Guard and Reserve service members and their families.
• Military Homefront – Department of Defense website for official Military Community and Family Policy (MC&FP) program information, policy and guidance designed to help troops and their families, leaders, and service providers.
• Special Needs/Exceptional Family Members – direct link to Military Homefront resources for families with special needs children
• Working with Military Children: A Primer for School Personnel – project of the Virginia Joint Military Services Board
• USA4 Military Families – a site developed by the US Department of Defense with information about states partnering to support military families
• US Army MWR – information on family and morale, welfare and recreation for US Army soldiers, families, retirees and civilians
• Military k-12 Partners – includes resources for military families and information on the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) grant program
• Military Youth on the Move – advice to elementary, middle and high school students on making the transition to a new school
• Military Impacted Schools Association - (MISA) is a national organization of school superintendents to serve school districts with a high concentration of military children.

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