Rep. Martin introduces bill to ease way for military children
Tuesday May 27, 2008 6:14 PM
Rep. Grier Martin introduced legislation today that would ease the transition to new schools for children of military parents.
Rep. Margaret Dickson, along with former school board members Rep. Rick Glazier and Rep. Alice Underhill, also sponsored the bill, which would allow North Carolina to join an interstate compact that would work together to help military dependent children who transfer schools. The Council of State Governments worked with educators and the Department of Defense to develop the compact. The group plans to meet this fall to examine ways for states to help these children more easily participate in extracurricular activities.
The average military student changes schools more than twice during high school and most military children will be in six to nine different school systems from kindergarten to 12th grade, according to the Military Education Coalition. Frequent transitions between schools can delay educational achievement.
The compact would allow states to work together for easier transfer of records between school systems; proper course placement and consistent graduation requirements. It will become operative after 10 states agree to join.
Kansas, Kentucky and Arizona have already agreed to join the compact. At least 18 other states are considering similar legislation. It has passed at least one legislative chamber in at least 11 states and awaits only the signature of a governor in five states.
The legislation is particularly important in North Carolina, which has the third-largest military population in the nation and is home to Fort Bragg, Pope Air Force Base, Camp Lejeune, Cherry Point Air Station, New River Air Station, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and other military installations.
The Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune areas are expecting large influxes of new military personnel in the next few years as the recommendations of the federal Base Realignment and Closure committee are implemented.
Read the Fayetteville Observer's coverage: Military families may get help
Rep. Margaret Dickson, along with former school board members Rep. Rick Glazier and Rep. Alice Underhill, also sponsored the bill, which would allow North Carolina to join an interstate compact that would work together to help military dependent children who transfer schools. The Council of State Governments worked with educators and the Department of Defense to develop the compact. The group plans to meet this fall to examine ways for states to help these children more easily participate in extracurricular activities.
The average military student changes schools more than twice during high school and most military children will be in six to nine different school systems from kindergarten to 12th grade, according to the Military Education Coalition. Frequent transitions between schools can delay educational achievement.
The compact would allow states to work together for easier transfer of records between school systems; proper course placement and consistent graduation requirements. It will become operative after 10 states agree to join.
Kansas, Kentucky and Arizona have already agreed to join the compact. At least 18 other states are considering similar legislation. It has passed at least one legislative chamber in at least 11 states and awaits only the signature of a governor in five states.
The legislation is particularly important in North Carolina, which has the third-largest military population in the nation and is home to Fort Bragg, Pope Air Force Base, Camp Lejeune, Cherry Point Air Station, New River Air Station, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and other military installations.
The Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune areas are expecting large influxes of new military personnel in the next few years as the recommendations of the federal Base Realignment and Closure committee are implemented.
Read the Fayetteville Observer's coverage: Military families may get help