Imperial Valley News

Sacramento, California - State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today unveiled the final report of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children Task Force. The report offers recommendations to remove barriers to the educational success of children of military families because of the frequent moves and deployment of an active duty military parent.

"Military families make many sacrifices on behalf of our country's safety and security," O'Connell said. "Children of men and women in the service often shoulder an extra burden of trying to complete their education while transferring from one state to another. These students often don't get academic credit for the school work they performed or have trouble getting their student transcripts. We can help these students overcome some of these challenges by adopting the suggestions in the Military Children Task Force's report."

The report entitled, Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, is the culmination of a series of meetings of the Military Children Task Force. The Task Force is comprised of 15 members, including lawmakers, military, educators, and other government representatives. The goal of the Task Force was to identify issues and offer solutions.

The Task Force identified numerous challenges, such as the differences in rules among states involving immunizations, the entrance ages for kindergarten and first graders, exit exams, and graduation requirements. Other report sections involved school transfers related to course and program placement, and participating in extracurricular activities, among other issues.

The Task Force offered solutions, such as easing restrictions over the release of students' records, placing students in the right courses and programs, and facilitating arrangements to ensure on-time graduation. School districts would be encouraged to use their best efforts to help students receive credit toward their diploma for prior coursework in another state's school district. The Task Force also recommends California adopt the Interstate Compact. Being a member of the Interstate Compact includes collecting fees for the cost of its operations and activities. The cost to California is expected to be $61,552, which is levied at $1 per military child per year. If the state cannot pay the fee, outside funding sources may be accepted. The Compact has now been enacted in twenty states, and eighteen more have introduced bills that would enable them to join it.

The next step in the process is for the approval of Assembly Bill 343 (D-Saldaña). The measure would authorize California to join the Interstate Compact that would then enable the state to start working with the other Compact members on the recommendations to remove barriers to the educational success of these children. AB 343 is currently in the state Senate and enjoys broad bipartisan support, as well as the support of Superintendent O'Connell.