ANDREWS AFB, Md. –
The state of Maryland, along with other states with large military populations, is considering a multi-state pact and legislation that makes school transitions easier on military children and their families.
Proposed by the Council of State Governments' National Center for Interstate Compacts with cooperation of the Department of Defense, the interstate compact would address challenges dealing with school enrollment, placement and graduation.
Master Sgt. Glynis Fresia, 316th Mission Support Squadron Family Readiness Center community readiness NCO, and Cynthia Nunes-Taijeron, 316 MSS school liaison officer, recently attended a hearing to discuss the unique challenges facing the youngest members of the Team Andrews military community, with Maryland state legislators.
"The hearing was on forming an interstate compact and educational opportunities for military children," said Mrs. Nunes-Taijeron. "Several military families from here, Fort George G. Meade and Aberdeen Proving Grounds, were asked to express the concerns that families face in the military with their school-age children, especially when you transfer them from one school to another. The legislation would make nationwide requirements for eligibility, vaccinations, and for high school classes the standard."
The set standard would allow for uniform treatment at the state and district level for military children transferring between school districts and states.
A common challenge faced by high school military dependants who PCS from one state to another is retaking state history required classes for each state, said Mrs. Nunes-Taijeron. "This multi-state pact would mean that just because you move from Alabama to Maryland, and you took Alabama history there and you now need Maryland history here, the schools aren't going to say, 'Sorry, you need to take Maryland history now,' and possibly delay graduation and take summer school as a result. The pact would address those kinds of issues."
"I was able to express my experiences as a military family member, but also share what challenges other families out there face," said Mrs. Nunes-Taijeron. I also talked about making eligibility for preschool and kindergarten standard. You see this even in our area between Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia, the date to start kindergarten is different. Even DoD schools, have different standards."
According to the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, "most military children will attend six to nine different school systems in their lives from kindergarten to 12th-grade."
The compact will go into effect when adopted by 10 states and the states' participation in the compact is completely voluntary.
For more information, call Mrs. Nunes-Taijeron at 301-981-0057 or email 316MSS.SLO@andrews.af.mil.