National University Back-To-School StrategiesMilitary-Connected Students

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National University NBC Teacher Leadership Center

We serve educators in all 50 states and internationally. The National University NB Leadership Center believes that National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) represent accomplished educators who are role models of excellence in teaching, learning, leadership, and service.

White House Initiative “Operation Educate the Educators”

Dr. Jill Biden urges teacher-preparation universities to prepare educators to serve military-connected students. The emphasis of the program is to inform and train military-connected teachers on how to best support over 1.3 million military-students who are found across America in every school district.

The vast majority of students are public school students, not in DoDEA schools

National University Teacher Leadership Center’s fit?

▫Partner with PK-12 schools

▫Develop networks

▫Offer Support-training and tools

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Military Life is often a positive experience:

allowing for personal growth for children

and military families.

MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS

Active duty families move every two to three years. Children often experience six to nine moves during

their PK-12 school career

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Suddenly Military-ChildrenGUARD & RESERVE CALLED TO DUTY

Since 2001, over 205,000 students who never before considered themselves to be military-connected had a parent suddenly deploy in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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Fast Facts•There are currently 2,000,000 military-connected children in America; of those :

▫1,381,584 of the military-connected children are 4-18 years old

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Fast Facts•There are currently 2,000,000 military-connected children in America; of those :

▫Over 80% of these children – 1,105,267 students – attend PK-12 public schools

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Fast Facts•There are currently 2,000,000 military-connected children in America; of those :

▫Approximately 10-12% of military-connected students are served in special education programs.

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Fast Facts•There are currently 2,000,000 military-connected children in America; of those :

▫Every school district in the country has military-connected students. **

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Personal Background – Who am I? Military Spouse Mother of Four National Board Certified

Teacher NBC Program Ambassador Doctoral Student

Student concerns I see daily•Calendars: Start/end dates and

Holidays

•Schedules: Traditional vs Block schedules or Semester vs. Trimester

•Interpretation of Grades

•Repeated and Missed Content:

•Extra-Curricular Activities:

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Student concerns I see daily

•Housing equals registration

•Rank and Public life

•Identity/culture of military life

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Social-Emotional Issues For All Students• Connecting with peers

▫Leaving old friends, sustaining relationships

▫Making new friends▫Breaking into existing

social networks

• Adjusting to new community

• Dealing with deployment▫Pre-deployment▫Deployment▫Return from deployment

1 military family+1 change of duty station

A Change of address, change of school and teachersA Change of friends, change of place of worship,A Change of weather, change of sceneryA Change of schedules, change of neighborhood,A Change of sports, and change of routine

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Education of the Military Child in the 21st Century

http://www.militarychild.org/emc21-report

DeploymentsHomeschooling

Secondary Education Transition StudyEducation of National Guard and Reserve

Children

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Deployments DO Impact “business” of running a school.

▫Parents who shared a high support from the school reported back a positive or neutral deployment impact on education;

▫Parents who shared that a school was not helpful or ambivalent during a deployment created a negative educational impact due to deployments.

Teachers

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“[Deployments have] demanded for me to be more compassionate, and identifying the difference between an excuse and reason. We talk a lot about that in my class… excellence, consistency, not over reacting without knowing what’s going on.” --Teacher pg. 23

“One of my kids had a hard time in

school, did not have a lot of

teacher support during the

deployment of my husband.

He’s an average student and

needed a little bit more attention.”

--Parent pg 12

Move To Homeschooling:

• A desire to provide religious or moral instruction 32%

• A concern about the school environment 20%

• A dissatisfaction with academic instruction in the public school

32%

• Provide a non-traditional approach to education 8%

• Other reasons (travel, family time, distance to school, financial)

20%

• Child has special needs the parents feel the school cannot meet

24%

• Child has physical or mental health need 4%

• Continuity in education during transition 28%

• Pg. 12

Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Childrenhttp://www.mic3.net/

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Who Is Eligible for Assistance Under the Compact?

•Children of▫Active duty members of the

uniformed services. ▫National Guard and Reserve

on active duty orders. ▫Members or veterans who

are medically discharged or retired for (1) year.

▫Members who die on active duty.

Article IV - Enrollment:Educational Records

What’s included:• Parents can receive

a copy of unofficial records

• Receiving school must accept the unofficial records to enroll and place the student pending reception of official records

What’s not covered:• Giving parents the right to

request a copy of every paper in the student file

• Receiving unofficial records free of charge

Article IV - Enrollment:Kindergarten and First Grade Entrance Age

What’s included:

• A student can continue in the same grade in the receiving state regardless of entrance age requirements if he or she has already enrolled in kindergarten or 1st grade in an accredited public school

What’s not covered:• A student who has not

been enrolled in kindergarten even though they are of eligible age to have started

Article V - Placement and Attendance:Course and Educational Program Placement

What’s included:• Receiving state will initially

honor placement in courses or programs based on the student’s enrollment in the sending state

• Receiving state may subsequently perform an evaluation to ensure the appropriate placement and continued enrollment

What’s not covered:• Guarantee of continued

enrollment if not qualified• Although the receiving school

must demonstrate reasonable accommodation, there is no requirement to create a course or additional space

Article V - Placement and Attendance:Absence Related to Deployment Activities

What’s included:

• Flexibility for additional excused absences to visit the parent or legal guardian due to deployment

Note: Deployment window is defined as one month before the member’s departure from her/his home station through six months after return to her/his home station

What’s not covered:

• Requiring more than “reasonable accommodation”

Note: this provision provides discretion and flexibility to the LEA and school superintendent during state testing periods or if the student has already missed so much school that additional absences will be detrimental

Article VI – Eligibility:Eligibility for Extracurricular Participation

What’s included:

• State and local agencies shall facilitate the opportunity for inclusion in extracurricular activities regardless of deadlines as long as the child is otherwise qualified

What’s not covered:• State student athletic associations,

some of which are not affiliated with state or LEAs

• Although the receiving school must demonstrate reasonable accommodation, there is no requirement to hold open or create additional spaces

Article VII – Graduation

What’s included:• Waiving courses required for

graduation if similar course work has been completed in another LEA

• Flexibility in accepting sending state exit or end of course exams, national achievement tests, or alternative testing in lieu of testing requirements

What’s not covered:• Mandatory waivers

….although LEA must show good cause for a denial of waiver

• Mandatory waiver of the exam or acceptance of alternative results

Effective Date

10 States adopted in July 2008.

This summer:All 50 states have officially adopted the Compact!

August 4 New Hampshire made 49August 20 New York made 50!(**Oregon becomes effective January 1, 2015)

http://www.mic3.net/

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Impact of MIC3?

•Officially binding Interstate Compact•Has ‘teeth’ to ensure Compliance

•Problem?▫Call your School Liaison Officer

http://www.militaryk12partners.dodea.edu/

▫Call your MIC3 State Commissioner▫ http://www.militaryk12partners.dodea.edu/

▫Call MIC3 Executive Director▫ http://mic3.net/pages/contact/contactmic3.aspx

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Common Core State StandardsHow does it affect military-connected students?

“Common Core” or “Common Core State Standards

•For our military-connected children, CCSS are a dramatic shift from an education experience.

Problems before CCSS

•Students in the same grades but different states are likely to learn vastly different material

•Causing a mismatched patchwork of ability across the nation.

School Liaison Officershttp://www.militaryk12partners.dodea.edu/resources.cfm?colId=liaison

Coordinate and assist school aged children of military parents with educational opportunities and information necessary to succeed in an academic environment.

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School Liaison Officers (SLO)

•Network, educate, and work in partnership with local schools to provide caring adults to enhance the education experience. 

http://www.militaryk12partners.dodea.edu/resources.cfm?colId=liaison

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School Liaison OfficerGoals:• Identify barriers to academic

success and develop solutions;

• Promote parental involvement and educate local communities and schools regarding the needs of military children; 

• Develop and coordinate partnerships in education; and

• Provide parents with the tools they need to overcome obstacles to education that stem from the military lifestyle.

Responsibility:• Serves as the primary point

of contact for school-related matters.

• Represents, informs, and assists Command.

• Assists military families with school issues.

• Coordinates with local school systems.

• Forges partnerships between the military and schools.

http://www.militaryk12partners.dodea.edu/resources.cfm?colId=liaison

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Individual level - YOU

•Think military-connected student

•Think non-traditional military-connected students ▫(friends & family members)

*Maybe your school is not a “traditional” military-connected school. We need YOUR SUPPORT too!

How can YOUR school environment beMILITARY SUPPORTIVE?

Not just military friendly?

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Goal:

• Improve the quality of the educational experience for all students.

• Military-connected students do not need an advantage over other students, only be offered a level playing field to success.

▫Commitment - Include grant programs to meet the needs of military-connected students. DOE/DODEA offers grants specific to military

programs - http://www.militaryk12partners.dodea.edu/grants.cfm

ParentsWhat are some of the biggest challenges you face as a parent of a military-connected student? Please write in the chat window

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How do I prepare my kid for a move?www.schoolquest.com

1. Explain WHY you are moving and what YOU will miss.

2. Have children draw pictures, write, or act out their feelings.

3. Memories are important and can be saved through an address book or scrapbook you can complete together.

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How do I prepare my kid for a move?www.schoolquest.com

4. Say goodbye to people, places, and things. last visits?good-bye social?

5. Take advantage of the MCEC Interactive Counseling Center to visit with a counselor from the new school.

6. Parents of special needs students should make sure their child’s IEP is up to date and bring a copy with you!

On Base Resources

PASS (Parent Advocate for Students & Schools) workshops

Call Key Spouses/FRG's/Ombudsmen or 1st Shirt

Join and Participate in Military Kids Connect - https://www.militarykidsconnect.org/

Work with your School Liaison Officer - http://militaryk12partners.dodea.edu

Contact and use your base family support services.

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•Helping all military families. Active Duty, Retired, National Guard or Reserves, whatever your status, we're here for you!

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SchoolQuest.organ initiative of Military Child Education Coalition

How do I help my child adjust to a new school with new teachers, new friends, and new expectations?

• Talk and listen to your child.

• Tour the school & School’s web site

• Learn the rules.

• Get a list of required school supplies.

• Encourage your child to make new friends.

• Get to know your child’s teachers.

• Keep family traditions!

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www.tutor.com/MILITARY

FREE for students in Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard and Reserve families.

Expert tutors are online 24/7 and available to help including test prep, proofreading, Math, Science, English and Social Studies. - Service available to ALL students; free for military-connected families

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Tutors in over 40 subjects!

• Math, science, social studies, and English. Military students at every skill level can get help, from elementary math to honors English to AP Chemistry.

Access for students at schools on and off installations

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Talk to your PTA –Did you know the National PTS offers 15 ways that the National Standards can be used by PTAs to support military families? http://www.pta.org/programs/content.cfm?ItemNumber=3616

• Standard 1: Welcome All Families to the School Community

• Standard 2: Communicating Effectively• Standard 3: Supporting Student Success• Standard 4: Speaking Up for Every Child• Standard 5: Sharing Power• Standard 6: Collaborating with Community

•Ask for or start a Parent Buddy System

51What can School Counselors and Administrators do to support our students??Please add here any particular school sponsored activities you have seen that are effective (or not effective) in supporting students

ADVOCATE FOR YOUR MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS!!

HOW?

School Counselors

• Partner with local base & School Liaison

Officers

• Ensure military-minded WEBSITE

• Create a welcome to school/community pack

• Be open-minded &creative in scheduling

• Register students in class with friends

• Encourage extra-curricular

School Counselors

•Create a military club for military and non-military students

•Adopt military unit - Invite for military members on campus

•Celebrate April’s Month of the

Military Child – PurpleUP!

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School Counselor projects

• Create Deployment Time capsules

• Celebrate military/veteran events

• Weekly/daily announcements

specific to support options

• Create a friendship garden

• Military Recognition Bulletin board

• Hero Wall

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• Trains civilian and military-connected high school students to establish and sustain peer-based programs in their schools to support mobile children as they transition to and from the school.

• http://www.militarychild.org/parents-and-students/programs/student-2-student

MCEC Student 2 Student program

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Military One Sourcehttp://www.militaryonesource.mil/those-who-support-community-partners

Community/Partners or Service Providers

For those that support and defend this nation’s freedoms, we must also stand in support of them. Taking care of our service members and their families is the responsibility of all members of our society.

Develop and utilize School Climate Surveys

How is your school prepared for the transient population of military families joining your campus by military orders during a military deployment?**

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Does your school have a plan in the event of the death or injury of a military member on deployment or in the local area? How is your school prepared for their return?

Watch students before, during, and AFTER

deployment!!

ONE out of FOUR military kids is likely to consider suicide -- significantly more than non-military kids.

• http://www.cbsnews.com/news/collateral-damage-the-mental-health-issues-facing-children-of-veterans/

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Administratorshttp://www.aasa.org/content.aspx?id=9008

1. Set up transition centers at schools. 

2. Hold parent workshops .

3. Provide counselors trained specifically in helping military families deal with change, deployment and grief.

4. Keep records of the military parents’ units and plans for

deployment. 

5. Work directly with School Liaison Officers. 

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Administrators:1. Promote a district policy that supports military

students’ academic success.

2. Build partnerships – honorary Principal?

3. Schedule workshops for educators that focus on understanding the unique challenges of military children. 

4. Ensure students with special needs have comparable services.  

5. Make exceptions. 

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What can Military-Connected Teachers do to support our students?Please add here any particular TEACHER related activities you have seen that are effective (or not effective) in supporting students

How can Teachers be supportive?

• Classroom & school libraries offer military-related

books

▫ Daddy, You're My Hero! and Mommy, You're My Hero!

▫ www.sesamestreet.org/parents/topicsandactivities/toolkits/tlcU

▫ www.militaryfamilybooks.com

▫ http

://store.militarychild.org/growing-learning-understanding-kits/

• Buddy Bench & Buddy Bench Helpers -

http://buddybench.org/

• World Map Bulletin Board – where have you lived?

How can Teachers be supportive?

•Welcome them!

• Encourage class introductions and time to meet new friends

• Buddy System (even in high school!)

• PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCE!!▫ Ask about past duty station locations▫ Ask about past school culture and routines▫ Ask about friends and favorite activities▫ Ask about “look for” attitudes or homework habits▫ Ask to STAY INFORMED

• Call home with good news and concerns – educational & social

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Deployment Support

• Keep a journal. Write poetry, stories, and pictures

• Pen-Pal - Write cards & letters

• Encourage class postcards

• Time-zone or Hero wall

• Create memory books or calendars

• Have military member read a book via video to classroom▫ http://www.unitedthroughreading.org/

• Sesame Street / USO Experience for Military Families ▫ http://www.uso.org/sesame/

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Deployment support

•Skype during school hours

•Allow extension/excused classwork/homework

•Expect changes in behavior!

▫Be aware and report changes

Look for drug/alcohol signs!

Look for signs of suicide idolization!

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Academic Transitions

Challenges:•Missed complete unit leading up to your

class•Already completed skills in your current

unit

Both cases:•Work with school counselor•Work with parents•Consider different individualized

assignment

Curriculum vs Standards

Remember – Students are expected to meet and pass STATE and DISTRICT standards. YOU have the flexibility to change curriculum and instruction methods!

Challenge students at deeper level…at THEIR level

But HOW?

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Use the tools of a National Board Certified Teacher

or Become a National Board Certified Teacher

Yourself

HARVARD Study and NBCT•On average, NBCTs outperform other teachers

with the same levels of experience by 0.07 and 0.03 standard deviations in elementary math and ELA respectively,

Roughly equivalent to one to two months

of additional instruction.

What Is National Board Certification?

A voluntary process

Achieved through a rigorous, performance-based assessment aimed to measure what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do while demonstrating how their performance improves student achievement

How does your teaching improve military student achievement?

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5 Core Propositions1. Teachers are committed to students and their learning.

2. Teachers know the subjects they teach & how to teach those subjects to students.

3. Teachers are responsible for managing & monitoring learning.

4. Teachers think systematically about their practice & learn from experience.

5. Teachers are members of learning communities.

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Continue the Conversation

Facebook:National University NB Leadership CenterAmanda Trimillos

LinkedIN:Amanda Trimillos

Web:http://nbctwave.org/nbct-edge/military-connected-teachers-and-students/

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Upcoming meetings

• New Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership Fall Cohort Information Meeting--Thursday, September 11, 6pm PST (9pm EST)

•  "National Board Certification in 2014! Options, Timelines and Free support! (National Board Certification/Master's Program Information Meeting)"--Saturday, September 13, 10:00am PDT (12:00pm EDT)

• What Parent Needs to Know about National Board Certified Teachers and PTA"--Thursday, September 18, 6pm PST (9pm EST)

http://nbctwave.org/webinars/information-meeting-webinars/information-meeting-webinar-registration/

Military-Connected Educators? Active Duty and Dependents!(Retired, Civilian working on base)*

National University offers special military rates and support just for you!

Military Advisors assist YOU with any challenges you face as a military-connected student !

We can help you use your GI-Bill or MyCAA funding for classes!

QUESTIONS?Reflect and Share: What is ONE thing you can use this month/year to help support a military-connected student at your school?

Thank you! If you would like a Certificate of

Participation, please e-mail me at Amanda.Trimillos@natuniv.edu

www.nbctwave.org

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Networks

• Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DoDEA) – www.dodea.edu

• MyCAA/MilitaryOneSource – eligible military spouses fund NBC GRAD courses. https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa/Default.aspx

• Military Spouse Portable Career Planninghttp://www.portablecareerplanning.com/2013/05/nbct/#comments• Elva Resa Publishing - www.militaryfamilybooks.com• Military Kids Connect - https://www.militarykidsconnect.org/• Military Child Education Coalition www.militarychild.org• Blue Star Families/ Blue Star Educators -

http://www.bluestarfam.org/

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Source Information•National University Teacher Leadership Center – www.nuptdc.org

•National Board of Professional Teaching Standards – www.nbpts.org

•Military Child Education Coalition - http://www.militarychild.org/

•AASA - http://www.aasa.org/content.aspx?id=9008

•Multiple military deployments in families may raise teen suicide risk -

http://www.latimes.com/science/la-me-military-children-20131118,0,3318240.story#ixzz2tyoI7D9p

•MCEC Military Study - http://www.militarychild.org/blog/emc21

•Common Core State Standards - http://www.corestandards.org

•Achieving the Common Core - http://www.achieve.org/achieving-common-core

•National Military Family Association - http://www.militaryfamily.org

•AACTE American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education - http://aacte.org

•Educators Guide military child during deployment - http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/os/homefront/homefront.pdf

• Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for Military Children- www.mic3.net

•School Liaison Officer - http://militaryk12partners.dodea.edu

•United Through Reading - http://www.unitedthroughreading.org/

•Sesame Street / USO Experience for Military Families – http://www.uso.org/sesame/

•USO Support - http://www.uso.org/SesameStreet.aspx

•Sesame Street military toolkit- http://www.sesamestreet.org/parents/topicsandactivities/toolkits/tlc