Supporting Military-Connected Students and Families in Texas ACET 2018 SPRING CONFERENCE APRIL 18,2018 4:00 PM-5:30PM

Supporting Military-Connected Students and Families in Texas ACET 2018 SPRING CONFERENCE APRIL 18,2018 4:00 PM-5:30PM

Month of The Military Child-Purple Up! Day April 15th https://www.flickr.com/photos/dodeacommunications/sets/72157644448625144/with/13894936499/

Month of The Military Child-Purple Up! Day

Agenda 1. TEA Leadership 2. Characteristics of Military-Connected Students 3. Data and Demographics in Texas 4. Transitions 5. Military Culture 6. Supporting The Needs of Military-Connected Students Through Partnerships and Collaborations

Strategic Plan

Strategic Priorities

Strategic Plan https://tea.texas.gov/about_tea/welcome_and_overview/tea_strategic_plan/

TEA Reorganization Office of Academics Department of Special Populations Division of Highly Mobile and At-Risk Student Programs

Division of Highly Mobile and At-Risk Student Programs McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Foster Care and Student Success Migrant Education Program Military-Connected Students Human Trafficking Prevention/Child Abuse Prevention Mental and Behavioral Health Collaboration Hurricane Harvey Taskforce on School Mental Health Supports

Military-Connected Child Military-Connected Active Duty: Army Navy Marine Corps Air Force Coast Guard National Guard Reserve National Guard and Reserve National Guard: Army National Guard Air National Guard Reserve: 75 th Innovation Command in Houston, Texas. Veteran Any individual who has completed their service for any branch of the armed forces and was not dishonorably discharged. *TSDS PEIMS PK-Military indicator code* *TSDS PEIMS Military-Connected indicator code*

Military-Connected Children By The Numbers Marines 19-22 Air Force Army 12-18 0-5 Navy 6-11 https://www.defense.gov//news/special-reports/0418_militarychild/?source=govdelivery

Characteristics of the Military-Connected Child Texas has the 2 nd largest population of militaryconnected students; more than 89,000 attending public schools. Military-connected children move on average 6 to 9 times during their K-12 education experience. 80% attend U.S. public schools including charter and magnet schools. Children from military families are twice as likely as their civilian counterparts to serve in the Armed Forces as adults. https://www.flickr.com/photos/dodeacommunications/albums/72157685956220934/with/36563562850/

Texas Military-Connected Student Demographics

Military Student Identifier Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the federal education law passed in December 2015, requires all public schools to collect data on active-duty military school-age children grades K-12. Texas began collecting the Military Student Identifier in 2013-2014. Active-duty, National Guard, and Reserve dependents are currently identified. Children of Veterans are not currently identified. Prior to 2015, there was no reliable or consistent data documenting the academic achievement, attendance, graduation, or other educational outcomes for militaryconnected students.

Military-Connected Students in Texas Source: Texas Education Agency, PEIMS Standard Reports Data 2017-2018

Transitions Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Temporary Duty Assignment (TDY) National Guard/Reserve Deployment Veteran Status

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Permanent Change of Station (PCS), is when an active duty service member moves with their family from one duty station to another. If the student comes from a single or dual active duty service member parent, then at times the child will be sent to live with a guardian at another location. Transitions can happen at any time of the year. https://www.military.com/

Temporary Duty Station (TDY) TDY is another type of family separation that happens across all branches of the Armed Forces. Require the service member to attend training, school, conference, or a military sponsored event away from their home base multiple times a year. Students are impacted by the separation even if there is no mobility involved on their part.

Stressors Associated with Transitions Regardless of the child s age we must take into consideration that they might be having mixed emotions as a result of their transition. Sadness/Excitement Anger/Anticipation Vulnerability/Confidence Loneliness/New Challenges Other things to consider: May be living in temporary housing. Making new friends-who to sit with at lunch? Adjusting to new classmates, teachers, schedules, school policies, curriculum, etc. Possibility of missing deadlines for sports or extracurricular activities. Lack a sense of belonging.

Deployment When active duty parent(s) are given military orders to leave their home post for a few weeks, months, or years. Not always a lot of notice. Can be anytime of the year. Source: Killeen Chamber of Commerce

Deployment-National Guard Texas National Guard and Reserve deploy to combat and non-combat related areas. Source: The Texas Military Department Source: The Texas Military Department

Source: The Texas Military Department Deployment-National Guard Continued

Deployment-Reserve

Deployment Cycle Military-Connected students and families go through a cycle of emotional stress. The Deployment Cycle: 1) Pre-Deployment 2) Deployment 3) Sustainment 4) Reintegration Pre- Deployment Reintegration Deployment Sustainment

Veterans Typically remain at their last duty station. Struggle with combat related injuries such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and/or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Family members including children might be tasked with becoming caregivers. Source: George W. Bush Institute Lose benefits they had as active duty members such as child care, and healthcare.

Activity 1. A positive daily routine 2. A person or people in which you rely on 3. A group, team, or organization to which you are connected

Transitioning into Texas Public Schools

Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children Texas adopted the Compact in May 2009. All 50 states including the District of Columbia have signed the Interstate Compact for Military Children. http://www.mic3.net/

Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children-Eligibility The Compact covers children of: Active duty military, National Guard, and Reserve on active duty orders. Members or veterans who are medically discharged or retired for 1 year. *Applies to public schools only*

Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children Chapter 162, Education Code, Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity For Military Children Facilitates the timely enrollment of children of military families and ensures that they are not placed at a disadvantage due to difficulty in the transfer of education records from the previous school district(s) or variations in entrance/age requirements. Facilitates the student placement process through which children of military families are not disadvantaged by variations in attendance requirements, scheduling, sequencing, grading, course content, or assessment. Facilitates the qualifications and eligibility for enrollment, educational programs, and participation in extracurricular academic athletic and social activities. Facilitates on-time graduation of children.

Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children Texas Commissioner Designee Shelly Ramos Senior Director of Curriculum Standards and Student Support Texas Education Agency 1701 North Congress Avenue Austin, Texas 78701 shelly.ramos@tea.texas.gov Ph 512-463-9581

Legislative Updates 85th Texas Legislature, Regular Session 2017; SB 587 Texas Virtual School Network Amending Texas Education Code 30A.002(b) and 30A.052(c) This bill permits a student who is a dependent of a member of the U.S. military who has been deployed or transferred to Texas and who has enrolled in a publicly funded school outside of Texas in the preceding school year to now enroll full-time in the Texas Virtual School Network (TXVSN) without having been enrolled in a public school in Texas in the preceding school year. Effective Date: May 26, 2017

Legislative Updates 85th Texas Legislature, Regular Session 2017; SB 1901 Texas Military Heroes Day Statue adds new Texas Education Code 29.9071 This bill establishes Texas Military Heroes Day in public schools and requires appropriate instruction as determined by each school district. Effective Date: June 12, 2017; applies beginning with 2017-2018 school year.

Military Culture

Military Culture Core values and beliefs Chain of command and rank structure Set of ceremonies and etiquette Terms and acronyms

Core Values and Beliefs Army: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, Courage Navy and Marine Corps: Honor, Courage, Commitment Air Force: Integrity, Service before Self, Excellence Coast Guard: Honor, Respect, Devotion to Duty

Chain of Command and Rank Structure Enlisted Military personnel below the rank of warrant or commissioned officers. This would be similar to an employee of a company. A minimum of a high school diploma is required. Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Typically start out as Enlisted and work their way up. Warrant Officer Highly trained specialist. Must be an enlisted member with several years of experience, be recommended by his or her commander, and pass a selection board. Commissioned Officer Highest rank of the military. These individuals are equivalent to senior staff in a company. Requires a bachelors degree.

Ceremonies and Etiquette Reveille and Retreat Bugle call played in the morning and end of the day. Customary to stop vehicles while being played. Standing for Commander When an Officer (05 and above) enters/leaves a room for a meeting, all individuals stand. Sir and Ma am Officers are referred to as Sir or Ma am, while enlisted members are referred to by rank. Hail and Farewell Greeting the incoming and saying good-bye to outgoing unit personnel.

Terms and Acronyms MOS FRG NCO CG CO CSM FAC Military Occupational Specialty Family Readiness Group Noncommissioned Officer Commanding General Commanding Officer Command Sergeant Major Family Assistance Center

Building Support Through Partnerships and Collaborations

Discussion Questions 1. Which schools within your region have the largest number of military children? 2. How do your local schools address the transition challenges for highly mobile students? 3. How do districts work together around military student issues? Do you know of any existing partnerships? 4. What can TEA do to strengthen and support LEAs with addressing the needs of military-connected students?

Partnerships Among Military, Schools, and Community Leadership School Board Members can invite military leadership to participate in school board meetings. Superintendents, Principals, and other school administrators benefit from learning about military routines and who to contact if any military related issues arise. Provide teachers with training specifically relating to military-connected student barriers and challenges. Keep military and school partnerships engaged. For example: Adopt-A-School Unit Programs. Source: Military Child Education Coalition

US Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Competitive Grant Funding Opportunities Fiscal Year 2017-2018 $30 Million Grant awards range from $250,000 to $1.25 million Eligibility requirements include campuses with 15% or greater military-connected enrollment for School Year 2017-2018 Funding is contingent upon military-connected student enrollment, but it is expected that the proposed projects may serve all students at the target schools http://dodk12grants.org/grantapplicantmaterials.aspx *All grant applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by May 2, 2018*

https://tea.texas.gov/mil/ Resources

Resources Continued http://www.militarychild.org/

Resources Continued

https://military.tutor.com/home Resources Continued

Program Contact Abby Rodriguez, M.A. State Coordinator, Military-Connected Students Division of Highly Mobile and At-Risk Student Programs 512-463-9502 abby.rodriguez@tea.texas.gov