Dear County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators:

Military Dependent Children Transfers

The purpose of this letter is to inform school districts that the state of California is a member of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (Compact) under California Education Code sections 49700–49703 at https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?division=4.&chapter=11.&part=27.&lawCode=EDC&title=2. The California Department of Education strongly believes in helping all students navigate and successfully attain their life, career, and academic goals. As a member of the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3), California remains committed to supporting and easing the education transitions of military students of the active-duty services, National Guard, and Reserves.

Background

The average military family moves, under orders, every two to three years. Most military children attend six to nine different school systems and sometimes transition at least twice during their high school years. Enrollment and placement of children of active-duty military families are under the Compact, which MIC3 oversees.

All 50 states and the District of Columbia adopted state statutes to become part of the Compact, and the Compact rules apply to all U.S. public schools and, through a memorandum of agreement, to the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity schools worldwide.

The Compact seeks to ease transitions for military children so they are afforded the same opportunities for educational success as other students and are not penalized or delayed in achieving their educational goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is covered by the Compact?

The Compact applies to students transitioning between public schools and, through a memorandum of agreement, the Department of Defense Education Activity schools nationwide.

The children of active-duty members of the uniformed services, National Guard, and Reserve on active-duty orders, uniformed members of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and U.S. Public Health Services are eligible for assistance under the Compact. The children of members or veterans who are medically discharged or retired, as well as members who perish while on active duty, are also eligible for one year following the death of the service member.

What does the Compact provide for students?

The Compact addresses the challenges military children face due to frequent relocations and supports them when they transfer interstate. The Compact defines children of military families as children enrolled in kindergarten through grade twelve who are in the household of an active-duty member. An active-duty member must be in full-time duty status in the uniformed services and can be a member of the National Guard or Reserves. While the Compact is not exhaustive in its coverage, it does address the key transition issues encountered by military families: eligibility, enrollment, placement, and graduation.

• Eligibility: Transitioning military children shall have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities, regardless of application or physical tryout deadlines, as long as they are otherwise qualified.
• Enrollment: An adult with a special power of attorney or a relative with guardianship can enroll a child. The Compact allows the student to attend their current school even if they are living with the noncustodial parent or guardian.
• Placement: The receiving school shall honor placement based on the student’s previous enrollment and/or educational assessments. The receiving school is not barred from performing subsequent evaluations to ensure appropriate placement and continued enrollment.
• Graduation: A school district must waive specific courses required for graduation if similar coursework has been satisfactorily completed in another school district or shall provide reasonable justification for denial. If a waiver is not granted to a student who would qualify to graduate from a school of the sending state, the school of the receiving state must provide an alternative means of acquiring the required coursework so that graduation may occur on time.

What must my district and/or schools do to prepare to support military families under the Compact?

Ensure your personnel are familiar with the Compact rules and regulations. In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education, the MIC3 will host quarterly training sessions to ensure districts/schools understand the protection afforded to military children and school districts.

California Compact 101 Training Schedule (Virtual):

• Tuesday, August 5, from 2 to 3 p.m.
• Thursday, August 14, from 9 to 10 a.m.
• Tuesday, August 26, from 2 to 3 p.m.
• Thursday, September 4, from 9 to 10 a.m.
• Tuesday, September 16, from 2 to 3 p.m.
• Tuesday, September 23, from 2 to 3 p.m.
• Tuesday, October 7, from 2 to 3 p.m.
• Thursday, October 16, from 9 to 10 a.m.

The Commission offers Compact 101 and 201 Training (in-person and virtual) at no cost to member states and stakeholders.

• View the MIC3 Events Calendar at https://mic3.net/events-calendar/ for monthly virtual options.
• Register on the MIC3 Training web page at https://mic3training.net/?llms_membership=registration for the self-paced online course.
• Review the Compact Training flyer at https://mic3.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/MIC3-Training-Promo-Flyer.pdf for other opportunities or inquire at mic3info@csg.org.
• Request MIC3 publications at https://mic3.net/publications/, including free rules books, parent guides, and brochures to share with personnel and parents.

I have a question about a rule or concern from a parent. Whom should I contact?

If there are questions regarding the rules or a possible case, contact the California State Commissioner Dominick Robinson by email at drobinson@cde.ca.gov and/or view the California Department of Education Military Children web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/pf/mc/. You may also contact the MIC3 National Office directly at mic3info@csg.org or visit the MIC3 website at https://mic3.net/.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction

TT:dr