Key message
By identifying military children and supplying data on their attendance and educational outcomes, states can assist schools and districts by providing access to data to help inform policy and program decisions for this unique student population. In addition, the Department of Defense will benefit from this data in developing policy and military child education initiatives.
Discussion points
A military student identifier helps recognize where military-connected students attend school, their current and over time academic performance in reading, math, and science, and graduation rates. It would not be intended to create an "accountable subgroup," but rather it would establish a report-only requirement in the same manner as the requirement for migrant and homeless children.
Data would be available to schools and districts as they review academic programs and school policy, and would be available upon request by DoD or researchers to track academic and educational progress for the following date points:
- Provide school and classroom-level awareness of students who might be affected by the deployment or service of a parent or by frequent moves — For example, information on attendance can help determine whether military children are absent more often during the deployment of military parents. Data on academic progress and discipline could help schools determine the need for additional counseling services during deployments or upon enrollment after a recent move.
- Facilitate data-driven decisions to improve distribution of DoD and local resources, interventions and other support to gain maximum impact for schools and students in need
Adding a field in an existing student information system should produce minimal additional cost. Many states are already collecting data on a number of subgroups or are in the process of setting up longitudinal, statewide data systems; therefore, an additional one or two data entry points should not be a significant burden.
Ideally, the data collected can be structured to allow disaggregation of children associated with active-duty service members and those in the National Guard and Reserve Components. Categories of "military child" should be defined in a consistent manner with other states, allowing for an aggregation of data. See Best Practice paper for definitions.
A military student identifier is broadly supported and endorsed by numerous school and military associations.1
1 School and military associations include the American Association of School Administrators, National Association of State Boards of Education, National Military Family Association, Military Officers Association of America, Blue Star Families, National Guard Association of the United States, Association of the United States Army, America's Promise Alliance and the Military Child Education Coalition.
2 Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission Final Report to Congress, January 2015.
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