Presenters: Lindsey Dablow, MIC3 Training and Operations Associate; Laurel Wironen, School Liaison Program Manager at Hanscom AFB; and Shana Wickham, EFMP-Family Support Coordinator

African American father holding his daughter and the flag.

What is a School Liaison?
Exceptional Family Member Program
Compact 101

Back to School Toolkit from Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC)

Military back to school toolkit

The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) Back to School Toolkit contains:

  • Printable tools and activities for parents and children
  • Back-to-School Toolkit: a downloadable collection of handouts for developing successful practices at home
  • Registration links for upcoming parent webinars and recordings of previous webinars
  • Professional development: two opportunities to learn about Purple Star Schools in 3 hours of training spread across 2 days
  • Podcast links by topic on both Apple Podcast and Podcast Bean
  • Additional MCEC toolkits and resources

Access and share the toolkit: https://www.militarychild.org/backtoschool

Guide for Parents, School Officials, and Public Administrators

MIC3 Guide for Parents_School Officials_Public Admins

Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3) – MIC3 was developed to establish a uniform standard to ease the state-to-state transition of military personnel, their spouses, and especially their children as they transfer from one school system to another due to the military parent’s frequent reassignments.  MIC3 Frequently Asked Questions.

DESE MIC3 Website. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education provides information regarding their support and assistance to the students of active duty military families

The Guide for Parents, School Officials, and Public Administrators resource provides a wonderful overview of the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3) in easy-to-understand language

IDEA Compact Related Guidance

Mature students studying in library

Compact 101 Training.  This introductory training provides attendees with information about the Compact and how it applies in their school and state, and how it supports military students. Visit the website to learn more about this free training opportunity and additional related information.

Resources for Caregiving Veteran Families

Explore this new Department of Education site to explore both federal resources and non-federal resources to increase educators’ capacity to understand and support children who live in military households, and specifically Veteran caregiving households.

Additional Education Resources

  • Month of the Military Child – While April has been designated as the “Month of the Military Child,” schools are encouraged to take time throughout the year to recognize the nation’s military servicemen and servicewomen, their families, and their children. See possible activities, download materials, and read why the Month of the Military Child was designated.
  • DoDEA Educational Partnership – DoDEA’s Educational Partnership provides outreach to the schools that serve military-connected children to support academic achievement and positive educational opportunities and outcomes for military children. Through a variety of outreach initiatives, such as working collaboratively with the U.S. Department of Education, managing a robust grant program, and providing training and development opportunities, the DoDEA Educational Partnership champions quality educational opportunities for all military children.
  • Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) – MCEC’s mission is to ensure inclusive, quality educational experiences for all military children affected by mobility, family separation, and transition. MCEC offers numerous resources for parents, information about leadership camps and scholarships, and extensive training for educators about the needs of military-connected students.
  • Military Impacted Schools Association (MISA) –MISA is a national organization of school superintendents that serve school districts with a high concentration of military children.
  • Tutor.com for Military – Tutor.com for U.S. Military Families,  provides on-demand, online tutoring and homework help at no cost to active duty service members and their eligible dependents. With live, expert tutors available 24/7, military-connected students can receive academic help at their moment of need—anywhere they have an internet connection.

IDEA Letter on Military-Connected Children with Disabilities November 9, 2023

MilitaryOneSource – Military OneSource is a free service provided by the Department of Defense (DoD) to active duty Guard and Reserve service members and their families. It provides 24/7 access to comprehensive information on every aspect of military life. For videos, articles and other content geared to military kids and teens, please visit Military Youth on the Move.
National Military Family Association (NMFA)– NMFA is a non-profit organization focusing on important issues for military families through bold advocacy and innovative programming. Issues addressed include child care, accessible health care, spouse employment options, school and community, a secure retirement, and support for widows and widowers.
Blue Star Families Association – Blue Star Families empowers families to thrive as they serve by connecting them with their civilian neighbors to create vibrant communities of mutual support. This is accomplished through individual research projects, policy analysis, and data from the annual Military Family Lifestyle Survey.
Military State Policy Source. This is an official Defense Department website to engage and educate state policymakers, non-profits, and other state leaders about the needs of military members and their families.