Parents key to child's school transition Published Sept. 22, 2010 By Col. Mark Whinnery 375th Mission Support Group commander SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Military parents know through personal experience and tales shared by friends, that effectively transitioning students from one school district to another can be challenging. Parents of young children worry about whether their child will be socially and academically ready for kindergarten. Elementary school parents have questions regarding the correct placement of their students, mandatory testing, and varied curriculums, of which all differ from state to state. For parents with middle and high school students, their thoughts turn to questions and concerns about high school transcripts, transfer of credits and negotiating the college admission and financial aid process. Of the approximate 1.2 million military children, about 1.1 million attend public schools--where their non-military schoolmates often don't understand or relate to their lifestyle and the difficulties they face, and staff members too often aren't equipped to offer the support they need. Military children generally move from six to nine times during their kindergarten through high school years. They make multiple moves during high school years alone. Academic standards, promotion and graduation requirements, programs for children with special needs, and transfer and acceptance of records vary greatly from school to school. In addition, there is the added stress of family separation due to deployments. Thankfully, there are multiple channels for military parents to become smarter advocates for their children. You can become familiar with the different coalitions supporting efforts to ease the transition impact such as Military Child Education Coalition as well as the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children that was signed by the Illinois governor June 28. The ISC was formed to remove barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families due to the frequent moves and deployment of their parents. It addresses key school issues encountered by military families: enrollment, placement and attendance, eligibility for student and extracurricular activities, and graduation. The compact simply calls for a level playing field to ensure "no military child is left behind" as they transition from school to school. What is available locally? You can get involved with a Team Scott volunteer group call Parent Advocates for Students and Schools, or PASS. They are a grass roots core of committed volunteers providing military parents effective ways to advocate for their children as they transition between school systems. This committee provides a forum and workshops bringing in local experts to address a variety of challenges military families may encounter and provide an opportunity for parents and educators to share experiences, solutions, and support. You are your child's strongest supporter and advocate so why not step in and make a difference--it is easy to get involved in PASS. All you have to do is make one phone call to the Airman and Family Readiness Center at 256-8668 or send one email to aafrc@scott.af.mil. I encourage you to get out and make a difference.