SUPPORTING MILITARY CHILDREN
DURING TRANSITIONS

There are multiple transitions military families face. Transitions occur when a parent is deployed, when they return, and when the family relocates. Each of these transitions can impact the children in our classrooms. In the previous modules, we've learned that military children often attend 6-8 schools before graduating high school. These frequent moves can both negatively and positively impact a student's education experience. America’s military-connected children can experience academic and social, emotional challenges as they relocate to new schools due to a parent’s change in duty station. These transitions create challenges since schools often have differing cultures, curricula, standards, course offerings, schedules, and graduation requirements. 

Checklists and to-do lists designed to assist families during deployments and relocations are easily found on military webpages; however, withdrawing and enrolling children in schools can be especially daunting. Parents often cite changing schools as the most stressful part of relocating. While the Military Interstate Children's Compact has improved the transition process, there are additional measures schools can take steps to support families during all stages of transition.

Some of the challenges military children face deal with mobility, deployment, and exposure to trauma. Please watch this short video on things to consider about military children.

Have you ever been "the new kid" in school? If so, you understand the challenge of saying goodbye to old friends and making new ones. When a military family is notified of a Permanent Change of Station (PCS), there are two school factors to plan for: transitioning out of one location and transitioning into a new one. Schools can help mitigate the impact of students leaving a school as well as ease the transition to the new school. It is important to remember that each child is unique and reacts differently. The child's age and his/her past experiences with transitions shape how he/she will deal with the next transition. The goal of this section is to help you build a positive transition experience for each military-connected student.

Please watch this short video for a few ways to support military-connected children during transitions.

In 2017, The Military Child Education Coalition and Columbia University Center for Public Research and Leadership published a study on the challenges of supporting military-connected children during transitions. The report discusses their findings on the challenges military-connected students face and presents potential solutions. Take time to read through the report below. 

Be sure to note the section on students with special needs. Relocations are especially challenging for children with special needs and families who find navigating each state's implementation of federal law difficult. In the early 1980s, the Department of Defense created the Exceptional Family Member Program to support military families with special needs family members. 

Additional Resources

• DCFS NVPeds Infographic on Grief signs 

• School Withdrawal/Enrollment Checklist.pdf  

• PSC Checklist for Military Kids Changing Schools.pdf  

• Student Behavior Concerns.pdf  

• A Military Family's Guide to Transitions 

• School Attendance Policies.pdf  

• Identifier for Military Children in Education Data Systems.pdf  

• Military Child Education Coalition Fall Transitions Newsletter.pdf