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.
No matter where you are stationed, a School Liaison Officer (SLO) is available to support military Families and students through all types of transitions. SLOs provide assistance before and after PCS moves, as well as during transitions related to deployments. Additionally, we support families as students progress through key educational milestones—moving from elementary to middle school, middle school to high school, and transitioning to post-secondary opportunities such as college, military service, or entering the workforce.
PCSing Out of Europe?
Moving is hard; especially mid-year school moves. Help is available! Use the directories below to locate a School Liaison Officer in your new location. Your new SLO can provide you with local school information and youth sponsorship assistance. Your current SLO can assist you with locating your new SLO and identifying steps you should take to help your child exit your current location smoothly!
MilitaryOneSource SLO Directory
Transfer and Withdrawal from DoDEA
Parents or legal guardians must fill out a Withdrawal/Records Request format least two weeks prior to the student’s last day of attendance. If the student is leaving within twenty days of the semester, PCS orders must be submitted to the school. If the student is withdrawing due to Early Return of Dependents, a letter from the sponsor’s command must be submitted.
“Acceleration” Program
Students who will be PCS’ing before the end of the school year may be eligible to receive full credit for the current semester through the “Acceleration” program.
Requirements:
- Contact the school at least 30 days prior to move.
- Orders (This is NOT for families leaving for vacation)
- Student must be in attendance all day on the last day prior to the accelerated withdrawal date.
- Student may be required to complete work in advance for full credit
- Acceleration dates start 20 days prior to the end of the semester.
For more information regarding Acceleration contact the school or your School Liaison Officer
Handy Resources:
Download this handy Checklist for your child’s school transition.
Consecutive OCONUS Moves
Most overseas assignments are to locations with Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA) schools. The School Liaison Officer from your new duty assignment can provide you local school information to assist you with the transition. For assignments in locations that are outside the commuting distance of DoWEA schools, you may be eligible for the Non-DoD Schools Program (NDSP) which provides educational support to include tuition to international schools.
Stateside Moves
Learn about schools in your new state.
Searching for a new school stateside can be hard. It is advised that you research and select a school BEFORE you select a home as enrollment is likely tied to your address. Also, be aware that if you will be staying in a hotel or lodging while looking for a home, your child’s school zone will likely be the zone for that temporary hotel until you move. Plan ahead if you know the school you want your child to attend. Your new SLO can help you with details about the policies in your new area. Use the links below to learn about and evaluate stateside schools.
Great Schools (Be aware that unfiltered parent comments are posted on this site and may be inaccurate. However, this site does provided some good data)
Neighborhood Scout
School Digger
National Assessment of Educational Progress
Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children All 50 states and Washington, D.C. are signatories to this compact to make transitions easier for military children. Find out how it works and is implemented in your new state.
School Quest is well-suited to anyone who is “questing” information about schools, college and workplace readiness, transition, etc. It is meant to facilitate the search for new schools and centralize resources. Especially helpful is the State Education Resources page on the site. It provides a cornucopia of information about education in your new state.
Research-based Characteristics of Quality Schools
There are mutual fundamental characteristics common among the majority of the schools considered successful in preparing students for the future. Research shows that the most effective schools are more alike than they are different.
Effective Schools
Five Likely Features of an Effective School
Effective Schools Research Base
What is Effective Schools Research?
Effective Schools Assessment Report
Emotional Support
Leaving a school can be very emotional for students of all grades. It is important for your child’s transition that the school be aware of your impending move so his/her teacher(s) can support your child by keeping an eye out for signs of distress. Some teachers mark the move with a special event or meaningful activity. Please keep them informed so they can be there for your child. If your child is having a hard time with the upcoming move, there are a host of resources and people in addition to teachers that can help; school psychologists, Military Life Counselors, student ambassadors, to name a few. Online resources include:
Military Youth on the Move helps kids (grades K-12) prepare for a move.
More PCS Resources
Moving with a special needs child? Check out this helpful booklet by the Military Child Education Coalition. (MCEC) Special Needs Move
Consider requesting a youth sponsor at your new duty station. Your School Liaison Officer can assist you with that connection!
Check out the USAG Stuttgart Relocation Assistance Program for local information and resources.
Deployment Support
Our Army Kids are amazing. They are resilient in the face of separations and multiple moves. Deployment can present numerous challenges for children. Luckily there are people, programs, and tips to support your kids and their education during a deployment.
Sesame Street for Military Families
Military One Source free non-medical anonymous counseling online, on the phone, or in person. Twelve free sessions may occur in individual, couple, family or group settings.
