Military experiences needed as testimony for legislation that may ease school transitions Published June 19, 2008 By Erin Blauvelt 305th Air Mobility Wing public affairs MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. -- Currently, New Jersey legislators are deciding whether to adopt the Interstate Compact on Education Opportunity for Military Children. This compact would make the often difficult transition between schools in different states easier for children with military parents serving active duty or on active duty orders. McGuire's School Liaison Officer, Lt. Col. John Clark is asking for McGuire Airmen's stories about experiences with transitions between school districts to be used in testimony by McGuire representatives at the state capitol. These Team McGuire experiences are going to play a critical role in persuading legislators that it is necessary for New Jersey to adopt the compact. The compact has been drafted with the cooperation of 18 different organizations representing policy experts, a variety of federal, state and local officials, education groups and military families in order to ensure the key issues faced by the military are addressed. These issues include eligibility, enrollment, placement, and graduation. The compact would require provisions such as granting 30-day grace periods for required immunizations, additional excused absences when deployment or other military affairs make them necessary, and extended deadlines for enrollment in extracurricular activities and honors classes. The compact would also require schools to be flexible when it comes to certain state-held graduation or age requirements, exit exams and disability accommodations. That is to say, military children would receive uniform treatment at the state and local levels when transitioning between schools. Colonel Clark gave this hypothetical example: If a high school student moves before or during his/her senior year of high school from New Jersey to Wyoming, and Wyoming requires Wyoming state history for graduation, the student should not be held accountable for Wyoming state history, rather, the school should allow New Jersey's requirements to apply or to work with the New Jersey school to allow the student to receive his/her diploma from the New Jersey school. Colonel Clark, who has two school-aged children of his own, views the interstate compact as a way to "break down barriers between states." A breakdown that is important to military families, because according to USA4 Military Families, most military children will attend between six and nine school systems from kindergarten through high school. In order for the compact to go into effect, it needs to be adopted by at least 10 states. To date, it has been adopted by eight, and is being considered by 11 more states including New Jersey and Pennsylvania. While it has been only recently introduced in New Jersey, it has already gained much support, including five co-sponsors on the bill. It is also strongly supported by the Military Impacted Schools Association, on which Dr. Richard J. Carson, superintendent of the North Hanover School District, sits on the board as the Region 1 director. Dr. Carson said of the North Hanover district, "The bottom line is what is good for the military child is good for every child. We at the schools support the contract as written. We understand the transition [military children face], and the compact would help in that transition a great deal." If you have had any experiences with transferring school districts in which local or state barriers caused you or your children additional stress or problems, Colonel Clark would appreciate you sharing those experiences. You can submit your stories via e-mail; please e-mail them to John.Clark1@mcguire.af.mil by July 3.