Partnerships key in supporting military-connected students with disabilities
Speakers from the US Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and the US Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Special Needs led a panel at OSEP's annual conference on August 7, 2024, focusing on military-connected children and the problems they encounter in education. The discussion introduced key resources available to military families and offered three recommendations for serving military-connected students with disabilities, including:
- Using Military One Source to learn the acronyms of organizations and terms related to education and special needs;
- Seeking out resources, such as the Center for Parent Information and Resources, and;
- Understanding MIC3 and the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.
Click on the link below to read more about these key resources and recommendations as discussed during the panel.
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Jennifer Davis
Delaware Commissioner
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Jennifer Davis is currently serving as the Education Associate for Student Services and Special Populations at the Delaware Department of Education. Some of her duties include supporting school counselors, school social workers, students experiencing foster care, and military-connected youth throughout the state. In addition, she supports efforts related to suicide prevention, child abuse, response to school-related traumatic events, and serves as the educational liaison for child abuse and neglect.
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The Commission would like to say thank you and farewell to departing members who have been integral to the success of the Commission. Thank you for your service and we wish you all the best in your next endeavors! | |
Shelly Ramos
Texas Commissioner and
Training Committee Chair
October 2016 - July 2024
Michael Rodriguez Delaware Commissioner
October 2022 - July 2024
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States Highlight Best Practices on Implementing the Compact and Supporting Military Students | |
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In this insightful series, six dedicated Commissioners share their unique perspectives on how their states effectively implement the Compact to support military-connected children during crucial educational transitions. Their experiences and strategies not only illuminate the diverse approaches taken across the country but also underscore the shared commitment to ensuring that these children have the resources and stability they need to thrive in their academic journeys.
Dive into these engaging videos by clicking the links below, and discover firsthand the innovative solutions and heartfelt efforts that are making a real difference in the lives of military families.
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Pennsylvania State Clearinghouse Study Released | |
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Phase 2: State Implementation of Four Initiatives to Support Military-Connected Students of the Penn State Study has been completed and the report is now available.
In Phase 2, the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State examined state/District of Columbia (DC) level implementation of four state/DC-level policy initiatives that were intended to support military-connected students. A website data extraction was conducted and consisted of a systematic review of state/DC education department websites and legislation (i.e., for the 50 U.S. states and DC).
For an overview of the assessment and state results, click here.
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MIC3: Past, Present, and Future Webinar | |
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The Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission stands formally for the Interstate Compact for Educational Opportunity for Military Children. The Compact serves as a contract between states, allowing governments to work collaboratively to address issues or concerns across boundaries. This webinar examines the Compact’s past: addressing why and when it started; the adoption by the 50 states and the District of Columbia; how it works and what it covers; the Compact’s present - mission, vision, values, and shared commitments; and the future, including next steps, current action items, and the new strategic plan.
Watch the webinar here
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Developments in Interstate Compact
Law and Practice (2023)
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In 2023, an article in the legal journal The Urban Lawyer outlined developments in Compact Law and the implementation of Compact practices that were enacted last year. The article includes The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children and the correction of a scrivener's error in the Compact that seemed to exclude the application of the compact to students of active members of the National Guard and Reserve.
Read the full article here
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New Graphic Provides Status of State Compliance | |
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This year, the Compliance Committee unveiled a new tool for monitoring progress with annual compliance requirements. Recently, a state requested clarity on how they should interpret the 'wheel'. "The wheel is simply a monitoring tool, not an evaluation criterion," said Compliance Chair Steven Bullard (KY), "it’s meant to be a quick way to look at a lot of information in a densely formatted graphic format." Red blocks show – per the color guide at the above – where a state is still outstanding. The wheel represents the current Fiscal Year 2024, so a state is not “delinquent” in any area until July 1, 2024. “Fiscal Year 2024” is highlighted in the white center block.
Each “spoke” represents a state. The concentric rings are color-coded to a specific event. If the color on your spoke matches the event, you are compliant for that event; if it is “red”, it’s still outstanding. "For those who, like me, are fully or partially color blind, with little ability to discern color differences," added Bullard, "we added color density differences in the color guide so you can still tell where that “color” stands out in the wheel. The main value in the wheel is that a quick look, once you understand the chart, tells the viewer where states are at in completing their current requirements, and which ones they still need to work on. on
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Becoming a Powerful Provider with OneOp | | |
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Check out OneOp’s upcoming live webinars for September. All past webinars are available on-demand via the Learning Library - OneOp. Participants can earn free continuing education credits and certificates of attendance.
OneOp is a virtual professional development platform for providers serving military families. Programming is free of charge and open to DoD, federal and state service providers, Cooperative Extension professionals, as well as community educators, case managers, advocates, and counselors supporting the military community.
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STANDING COMMITTEE MEETINGS
- Compliance - Tuesday, September 10, 2 PM ET
- Comm. & Outreach - Wednesday, September 11, 2 PM ET
- Executive Committee - Thursday, September 19, 1 PM ET
- Training - Tuesday, September 24, 1 PM ET
- Finance - Wednesday, September 25, 11 AM ET
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Compact 101 Training - Monday, September 23, 10 AM ET
Register here
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