Educational Options and Deployment Supports
Explore educational options available in your community. Find resources to help your Family through the deployment cycle.
Army Youth Sponsorship Program
The Army Youth Sponsorship program matches your child with a peer to help them transition to a new duty station.
Contact Us
Find contact information and hours for specific SLO programs.
School Liaison Officers (SLOs) provide valuable support to military families who choose to homeschool their children. They act as a resource and advocate, helping families navigate the unique challenges of homeschooling while ensuring access to educational opportunities and community connections.
How SLOs Support Homeschool Families:
- Understanding State and Local Regulations: SLOs assist families in understanding the homeschooling laws and requirements in their state or local area. They provide information related to the laws and policies in their state or region.
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Facilitating Connections: SLOs help homeschool families build connections with other homeschooling families and organizations, fostering a sense of community and collaboration. They may organize events, workshops, or networking opportunities specifically for homeschool families.
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Extracurricular Activities: Homeschool students often seek opportunities to participate in sports, arts, and other extracurricular activities. SLOs work with CYS Programs and community organizations to ensure homeschool students have access to these enrichment activities.
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Support During PCS Moves: Guidance on transferring homes-chooling records, understanding new state requirements, and finding local homeschooling networks in the new location.
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Advocacy and Guidance: SLOs advocate for homeschool families within the military community, ensuring they have access to resources and support. They also provide guidance on balancing homeschooling with the demands of military life, such as deployments and relocations.
Why It Matters:
Homeschooling offers flexibility and personalized education, but it can also present challenges, especially for military families. SLOs play a critical role in ensuring homeschool families have the support, and connections they need to succeed academically and socially.
Additional Resources
More links, documents, and tools to support your family.
- HSDLA Advocates for homeschooling and provides educational support and information.
Homeschooling in Europe
Some parents elect to homeschool their children while OCONUS. This is a legal option open to all SOFA sponsored active duty military, DoD civilians, and contractors. No state or federal government permission is required.
Be aware that for German citizens home schooling is illegal and homeschooling is not common or recognized in other countries. You should be mindful of potential “looks” if you are out and about off post with your children during "normal school hours". In addition, to prevent unwarranted interest by local authorities you should use discretion when conducting "non-academic" activities or allowing children to be unsupervised outside the home during "normal" school hours.
Child, Youth, & School (CYS) also offers special events/programs for homeschoolers in some locations.
Support within the DoDEA Schools for Homeschoolers
Homeschool families may request special education evaluation and services in the DoWEA schools. Homeschool families also have the option of benefitting from some of the activities or classes within the DoWEA schools. For example, a homeschool student may wish to participate in an extra-curricular activity, take just an art or math course at the school, complete standardized tests, have access to online learning program memberships the school has, take select virtual school classes, or use school textbooks. All these options are open to eligible Dependent homeschoolers through the on post schools on a space-available basis. Students must have completed registration paperwork with the school and commit to regular participation in any chosen activity to allow for proper planning on the part of the teachers or activity sponsors. For more information contact the school or your School Liaison Officer.
DoWEA Homeschool Information Webpage
NEW** DoWEA Home School Policy
Quick Facts Sheet on DoWEA Home School Policy
DoWEA- Home Schooling Quick Facts (003).pd
DoWEA standards and curriculum
If you are PCS’ing out of Europe please also contact your School Liaison Officer for assistance regarding homeschool information in your new location.
Helpful Homeschool Resources
Home School Legal Defense Association provides information on homeschool law, and general support and information about homeschooling.
National Home Education Research Institute
Homeschool Central
Homeschool.com
Secular Homeschool
Military Home Schoolers
Homeschool Mentor
HSLDA Home Shooling Overseas article
HSLDA You Can Homeschool
HSLDA Get Started Homeschooling
FAQs homeschooling a high school student
FAQs on Accredited High School Diploma
Guide to High School Homeschooling
John Holt (What is Unschooling?)
CLASS Homeschools (curriculum)
KONOS (themed curriculum )
Accredited Schools Online - guide to schooling online elementary-college level
K-12 Online school offered as part of public education in some states. Certain states allow for overseas DOD dependents whose home state of record is that state to enroll for free.
A-2-Z Homeschooling
A.C.E.
aBeka (curriculum)
Catholic Heritage Curricula
Seton Home Study Program
Jewish Homeschooling
Calvert (curriculum)
Time 4 Learning (curriculum)
Successful Homeschooling ( collection of secular curriculums)
Bright Hub Education
Global Village School
Gifted Homeschoolers Forum
Homeschool Special Education
Homeschooling special needs students
Local Homeschooling Information
Families can utilize the local Department of War schools to attend certain classes or to participate in the standardized testing. For information on part-time enrollment or testing, contact the school in your zone or the School Liaison Office.
