IN THIS ISSUE: WHAT IS A SCHOOL LIAISON? WE PROVIDE: AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2015 NAVY REGION NORTHWEST

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1 NAVY REGION NORTHWEST AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2015 CONNECTING MILITARY FAMILIES, COMMANDS AND K-12 SCHOOLS IN THIS ISSUE: Transition Support Online Learning Post-Secondary Preparation...5 Home School Linkage...6 Exceptional Family Member Program Resources Deployed, Wounded, AGR, or Fallen Soilders Contacts...8 WHAT IS A SCHOOL LIAISON? The primary point of contact between the military installation, schools, school district, transitioning families and the community at large. WE PROVIDE: Services for Transitioning Families to include; Assisting families with inbound/outbound school transfers Provide Information on local schools and boundaries Assist with school choice Provide graduation information Provide Military and Community agency Information Referral Help families understand the special education process Provide information on home-schooling regulations Assist with post-secondary preparation We also provide services for Educators & Commands CONNECT WITH US! NavylifePNW app Available for Android and iphone! /EverettFFR

2 Page 2 TRANSITION SUPPORT Three reasons the MIC3 is Crucial for Military Families MIC3 is an acronym for the Military Interstate Children s Compact Commission. Eligibility extends to the children of: Active duty member of the U.S. armed forces, including National Guard and Reserves on activeduty orders Members or veterans who are medically discharged or retired for one year Members who die on active duty The MIC3 ensures that military students moving between member states receive uniform treatment and are not penalized for a military relocation. Penalized for moving? That s exactly what can happen to military kids all over the world. For example if you were the parent of three unique and wonderful military kids, with the most creative names Child 1, 2, and 3. In your current location, Child 1 is very athletic and involved in many extra-curricular activities, Child 2 has special needs, and Child 3 is getting ready to graduate. Moving day arrives, your lives are packed into boxes, and away you go to your new home. Upon arriving, you head to the district offices to register your kids for school. However, apparently, some of the courses Child 3 completed are not recognized in this district. As a result there are some credits lacking according to this state s rules. Child 3 will not be graduating on time despite your proper preparation using the former school s graduation requirements. Many students face the loss of activities, accommodations or even graduation because of the difference in state standards. This is what is meant by unfairly penalizing students for moving with their family to the next duty station. The Compact addresses these problems and more. The MIC3 was created to address issues in three key areas: 1. Enrollment 2. Eligibility 3. Graduation These three areas are the most challenging and anxious issues for transitioning military parents and their students. Ensuring that students receive credit and accommodations which lead to a smooth transition makes everyone a winner! Visit their website for more resources and information. When you arrive with the necessary documentation, you are informed that in this district Child 1 does not qualify to sign up for the sports and extra-curriculars she loves because she has missed the application deadline. Child 2 had special needs accommodations at your last school. These accommodations are imperative for him to adjust well and attend school. This district wants to conduct their own testing and your child will be in limbo until a decision is made. And what about, Child 3, you re soon-to-graduate student? You already are making plans for the most amazing graduation party this town has ever seen!

3 Page 3 Things you can do before the move: One of the main things is to talk about the move with you child, including why you are moving, what they will miss. Younger children may draw pictures, write, or act out their feelings. Memories are important and can be saved through an address book or scrapbook you can complete together. Take some time to say goodbye to people, places and things. Parents of special needs students should make sure their child s IEP is up to date. See the Special Needs Checklist and Moving with a Special Needs Child in the SchoolQuest Library. Family Support Services Check what services are available through the installation through family Support Services. Military OneSource: Moving Army OneSource: Family Programs and Services Fleet and Family Support Center look under Relocation Assistance Program Marine Corps Community Service Air Force Crossroads: Relocation Sites for Kids Military Youth on the Move: sites for kids, pre-teens and teenagers. Look under Moving for articles on packing, saying good-bye, on the road and moving overseas. Resources Military Families on the Move: A Guide for Helping Kids and Their Families During PCS Moves by the Military Family Research Institute. Niche - offering you help as you choose a new neighborhood and school. The website also offers information on colleges across the nation. BR Anchor Publishing specializes in relocation books. Moving Companies and Realtors: Look for moving tips Building Resilience Supportive Relationships and Active Skill Building Strengthen the Foundations of Resilience Decades of research in behavioral and social sciences have produced substantial evidence that children who do well despite serious hardship have had at least one stable and committed relationship with a supportive parent, caregiver, or other adult. These relationships buffer children from developmental disruption and help them build key capacities, such as the ability to adapt, that enable them to respond to adversity and thrive. The combination of supportive relationships, adaptive skill-building, and positive experiences constitute the foundation of what is commonly called resilience. This Working Paper from the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child explains how protective factors in the social environment interact to produce resilience, and discusses strategies that promote healthy development in the face of significant adversity. Suggested citation: Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. (2015). Supportive Relationships and Active Skill-Building Strengthen the Foundations of Resilience: Working Paper harvard.edu

4 Page 4 MISA: Military Impacted Schools Association Education is an important quality of life program for military Families. Military Impacted Schools Association (MISA) is a national organization of school superintendents, dedicated to serving school districts with a high concentration of military children. Formed in 1986, MISA works on funding (Impact Aid), legislation, partnerships and programs for Military Families on the move. MISA partners with the Department of Defense Education Activity, National Military Family Association and military leaders to ensure that all military children are afforded a quality education. The site contains an extensive list of links for useful resources for Military Families and schools. MISA also works with local school districts to include a military representative on the school board, open lines of two-way communication between school districts and military installations, and provide information regarding Impact Aid Reauthorization. Impact Aid is the second-oldest elementarysecondary federal education program administered by the Department of Education currently in law. Please visit: militaryimpactedschoolsassociation. org/ Compiled by Courtney Adams, CYSS Specialist, Contractor: Odyssey-TCI JV, LLC ONLINE LEARNING SOAR: Student Online Achievement Resources for Military Students and their Classmates SOAR is the result of a partnership between the University of Northern Iowa, Princeton Review, Skills Tutor and CORE K12. The partnership is committed to enhancing the educational experience of the children of military personnel and the communities that serve them. Additionally, the resources help ease the transition as families move from one military installation to another, and support parents in valuing and enhancing the learning that occurs at home. SOAR is completely free of charge. Military children and their classmates now have access to SOAR at This on-line program provides students, parents and teachers with the standards in all 50 states and DoD schools overseas. SOAR s focus is on math, reading and language arts, for students in grades It helps parents manage their children s education with cutting-edge technology. Students can take an broad assessment on any state-learning standards or mini-assessments on specific skills, receive immediate feedback, and be directed to tutorials that will improve their skills, where needed. Parents can monitor the progress of their child from anywhere in the world. In addition parents are provided with resource materials that will assist their child in areas where they may need help. SOAR is not a placement program. It is a program that can help students, parents and teachers: Identify strengths and areas where students may need improvement Customize instruction to address the specific needs of a student Provide remediation and enrichment resources Provide families that are moving with a look at the state standards in their next school district Additionally, the University of Northern Iowa has developed instructional videos and ancillary resources in the following areas: Mathematics: Making sense of mathematics helps students make sense of challenging mathematics concepts and procedures. The videos build the viewer s conceptual understanding of mathematics by working through interesting, real-life situations. Supplementary resources give students the opportunity to check and extend their reasoning by solving problems similar to those in the videos.

5 Page 5 Videos and ancillaries are organized within the five strands of mathematics: Numbers And Operations Geometry Measurement Algebra Data Analysis And Probability Literacy: Making sense of literacy helps students make sense of challenging literacy concepts. Through engaging videos, the inquisitive knowledge seekers demonstrate how to examine the thinking that goes on as they process or create text. By using the Thinking Aloud videos and supplementary resources, students develop the literacy strategies necessary to construct understanding and flexibly apply them to new situations. Videos and Ancillaries are organized within the five strands of Language Arts: Reading Listening Writing Viewing Speaking Early Childhood Literacy: Making sense of early childhood gives teachers and parents of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers ideas on how to turn everyday activities into learning opportunities. Series of engaging videos show parents interacting with their children, modeling creative ways to meet the developmental needs of young children in both literacy and mathematics. These video and print resources will give parents the confidence to interact with their children in meaningful ways, as they learn together as a family. POST-SECONDARY PREPARATION MilitaryOneClick MilitaryOneClick is a great virtual resource for military Families and friends of the military community, providing direct access to valuable resources. These resources offer information on a variety of topics, including education, family support, health and wellness, financial management, veterans, job and career tools, and military discounts. EDUCATION The Education Resources page on MilitaryOneClick provides scholarships for kids and spouses, as well as information on elementary schools, colleges and adult training programs. The resources include: Military-friendly colleges, universities and continuing education programs across the country Military leadership programs for youth through the US Air Force, National Guard, Navy and Marine Corps Military-related and/or military-friendly scholarships and financial aid opportunities Helpful, education-related resources for parents of school age children, including tutoring services, articles related to parenting, educational tips, and information on public and private schools and school districts across the country. Topics include: Daily Activities Toys And Games Reading Together Talking Together

6 Page 6 HOME SCHOOL LINKAGE HSLDA, Home School Legal Defense Association When two attorneys and homeschooling dads Mike Farris and Mike Smith founded Home School Legal Defense Association in March 1983, homeschooling was just a tiny blip on the educational radar screen. Seeing a need for affordable legal advocacy, joined forces to establish a nonprofit organization to defend and advance the constitutional right of parents to direct the education of their children and to protect family freedoms. default.asp HSLDA is here for you from your first day of homeschooling right through graduation day! Two high school consultants are available to answer HSLDA members specific questions, provide general advice and offer encouragement. Watch these short, informative high school videos to learn more about high school at home. EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM RESOURCES The Navy Child and Youth Programs has partnered with LRP Publications to bring military families access to Special Ed Connection in an effort to provide resources to parents of students with disabilities. Special Ed Connection is a web-based resource for parents as their child enters; progresses through and exits the world of special education requirements giving parents have a clear understanding of what special education is and how it works. Here are highlights of just a few of the many components that will be made available for your use, due to this new partnership: Smart Starts The perfect starting point when you need to familiarize yourself with specific special education topics such as IEP basics and parental involvement. Special Ed Online Dictionary Provides straight-forward definitions of more than 1,400 widely used terms, which enhance dialogue about special education issues. News, Articles and Updates Stay current on newsworthy events in the special education community. This electronic newspaper is dedicated to keeping you informed and gives best practices from special education experts. Special Ed Round-Ups Provide you with a way to obtain bestpractice guidance and gain access to valuable resources on a host of important special education issues. To find out more about this exciting resource contact your Installation s School Liaison Officer!

7 Page 7 School Liaison Officer Role The school year is fast approaching and I want to assure you that I am available to assist your family and student(s) with the following core services: School Transition Services (PCS Cycle): School Liaison Officers support families with inbound/outbound school transfers by connecting families to informational resources regarding local public and private schools, special education processes, and graduation requirements. Deployment Support: School Liaison Officers connect educators with the Navy deployment support system, to inform them about the cycles of deployment and the tools available to assist educators in working with Navy children. Command, School, Community Communications: School Liaison Officers serve as subjectmatter experts for installation commanders on K-12 issues, helping to connect command, school and community resources. Home School Linkage and Support: School Liaison Officers assist Navy families by gathering and sharing information on home schooling issues, policies and legislation from local school districts. Post-Secondary Preparations: School Liaison Officers help prepare and provide graduating military students with access to post-secondary information and opportunities. Partnerships in Education (PIE): School Liaison Officers help connect installation and community members who have a vested interest in the success of all youth. Please contact your Everett School Liaison Officer with concerns, questions or informational requests. DEPLOYED, WOUNDED, AGR, OR FALLEN SOLDIERS Family Outreach & Support Center assistance is available 24/7 Fee Assistance is provided by the General Services Administration (GSA,) helping families find and afford child care that suits their unique needs. Through the fee-assistance program, Families are eligible to receive monthly fee assistance to help offset the cost of child care in their communities. For more information visit, portal. Army Respite Care The Army Respite Child Care will provide the family between 8 to 16 hours of hourly child care each month for each of the eligible children. Parents can use this time to run errands, attend appointments, or just take some well-deserved time out for themselves. The Navy recognizes the challenges and extraordinary stress the parents and families may be experiencing, and wants to help support them in meeting their unique, child-care needs. Eligibility: Deployed; Temporary Change of Station; Unaccompanied Permanent Change of Station; Temporary Duty; Wounded, Ill or Injured Status; Survivors of Fallen Warriors. Our Military Kids Our Military Kids provides grants for K-12 youth dependents of overseas deployed National Guard and Reserve personnel or severely injured Service Members. Visit Army Reserve Family Programs Army Reserve Family Programs provides programs, training, services, resources, youth programming and camping opportunities to Army Reserve Families. Visit Military OneSource Military OneSource provides an online library, web resources and non-medical counseling to Military Families. Visit: www. militaryonesource.mil/ Military Kids Connect Military Kids Connect (MKC) is an online community of military children (ages 6-17 yr. olds) that provides access to age-appropriate resources to support children from pre-deployment, through a parents or caregivers return. Visit: t2.health.mil

8 AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2015 Page 8 NORTHWEST REGION SCHOOL LIAISON CONTACTS TINA HOLTY M.S. School Counseling K-12 NAVSTA Everett School Liaison Officer th Ave. NE, Suite 111 Marysville, WA tina.holty@navy.mil BRENDA KOVACH, M.ED. NAS Whidbey Island School Liaison Officer 3675 W. Lexington Bldg Oak Harbor, WA brenda.kovach@navy.mil HEATHER CARRELL, PH.D. NAVBASE Kitsap School Liaison Officer 2901 Barbell St. Bldg Bangor Silverdale, WA heather.carrell@navy.mil DEPLOYED, WOUNDED, AGR FALLEN SOLDIERS, CONT D Zero to Three Zero to Three has information and resources for parents of infants and toddlers. A new phone app, Babies on the HomeFront, provides Military and veteran parents with strategies for enhancing everyday moments with their child. Visit: Military Child Education Coalition Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) is a non-profit organization focusing on academic and school- related needs of military-connected youth. Visit: National Military Family Association National Military Family Association has programs that provide Military Families with camps, family retreats, and healing adventures during deployment, reintegration, and coming together after an injury. Visit DIGITAL CONTACTS Visit Us Online: Become a fan of Navy SLO on Facebook: Connect with US! CONNECT WITH US! NavylifePNW app Available for Android and iphone! /EverettFFR