Schools & Children

As soon as a duty station is likely, look up the school districts around the installation — not just the closest one. Commute, school quality, and housing cost trade off against each other, and the right balance is different for every family.

Every installation has a School Liaison Officer whose entire job is helping military families with school transitions. They know which districts military families actually choose and why. Contact them before you sign a lease.

The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children is an agreement adopted by all 50 states. It addresses the problems military kids hit when transferring: enrollment timing, records transfer, course placement, and graduation requirements.

Under the compact, receiving schools must enroll your child using unofficial records while official ones transfer, place them in comparable courses, and work with you on graduation requirements if you move in high school. If a school pushes back, ask for the compact by name — or call the School Liaison Officer.

• Request unofficial copies of transcripts, immunization records, and any IEP or 504 plan before you leave your current school.
• Hand-carry those records — do not pack them with household goods.
• Ask the new district about proof-of-residency rules; many accept a lease, a letter from housing, or temporary lodging confirmation for military families.
• If your child has an IEP or 504, contact the new school's special education coordinator before the first day.
• For high schoolers, ask about credit transfer and graduation requirements early — especially moving junior or senior year.

On-base Child Development Centers often have waitlists, so get on the list as soon as you have orders. MilitaryChildCare.com is the official DoD portal for requesting care at any installation.

Off-base, ask the School Liaison Officer and local military spouse groups which providers other families use — that word of mouth is usually more current than any directory.