|
Frequently Asked Questions
NHEN strives for current accurate information. If you are a military homeschooler and have different answers to these FAQ’s, please contact military@nhen.org.
Whose law do I follow - the state/country where we are stationed, or our state of residence?
In the states, we follow the rules of the state where we live, not the state we claim as residence on our tax forms. So, you’ll need to check to find out the laws for meeting the requirements of the state. If you’re unsure, check the NHEN legal/legislative state listings.
For those stationed overseas, the DoDEA issued a memorandum (text) (actual memo in PDF) on March 27, 2000. In a subsequent policy memorandum on November 6, 2002, this section remained:
DoDEA encourages DOD sponsors who wish to home school their dependents to communicate their desire to the local military community commander to determine if there are any command policies or other rules that ensure that home schooling practices meet host nation, state, commonwealth, or territory requirements.
Return to Top
What are the military regulations related to homeschooling?
The 6 November 2002 Policy Memorandum on Homeschooling states:
It is DoDEA policy neither to encourage nor discourage DoD sponsors from home schooling their minor dependents. DoDEA recognizes that home schooling is a sponsor's right and can be a legitimate alternative form of educatin for the sponsor's dependents.
This memo provides extensive information for homeschoolers overseas who wish to use auxiliary services or classes at the DoDEA schools. Read the memo.
The Department of Defense Educational Activity (DoDEA) offers an extensive search website for those looking for specific military documents. Many of the documents in the DoDEA Search Collection are very large Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) documents. File sizes may exceed 2 MB — but are well worth the wait if you’re looking for first-hand information.
The Administrative and Logistic Responsibilities for DoD Dependents Schools (pdf file from the DoDEA) states:
Chapter 1:
D-3: The Installation Commander will...
f. Encourage all eligible dependents who have not completed high school to enroll in a DoDDS approved education program. If a DoDDS program is unsuitable to the parents, the installation commander shall encourage the parents to enroll their dependents in an alternate program.
The Department of Defense Procedure Manual for the implementation of DoD Directive 1342.6-M A DoDEA policy memorandum on homeschooling is also available.
In a search at the U.S. European Command website, homeschooling was mentioned as a possible/potential "program" needing funding. Homeschooling doesn’t appear to be a priority, but expect to see more questions, meetings, etc. if you are stationed overseas.
Here is specifically what the EUCOM has to say:
Home Schooling
Home Schooling support is not well known in the community. Information about the program needs to be effectively communicated to all parties involved and what support is offered by DoDDS. Curriculum guidelines and methods for evaluating student performance are necessary for accurate and fair academic/class ranking. Build a partnership on base and homeschoolers. http://www.eucom.mil/programs/deped/edconffunded.htm - Home Schooling
Return to Top
Does your academic program have to be approved by the commander or regulated by the DoD?
The Department of Defense does not regulate homeschoolers whatsoever at this time. Homeschoolers do not have to have their academic program approved by the commander. Parents maintain sole responsibility for the education of their children.
Return to Top
Are there support groups at every installation?
Not necessarily. Just as it is in the civilian world, areas vary as to their concentration of homeschoolers. You may have to search a little to find a group. We’ve identified message boards and email lists that can help you find other homeschoolers.
Another option, once you get there is to check the installation newspaper or bulletin boards. Consider putting up a "looking for other homeschoolers" notification yourself. Once you start to involve your children in community activities, ask around. It won’t be long before you find other families who have chosen to homeschool too!
Many military homeschooling families simply blend into the local homeschool community. Their military support and their homeschooling support come from two different places. For many, this works well because the local homeschoolers often know a great deal more about the resources available out in the community. Even if you do find other military homeschoolers, consider exploring beyond the gates. You may find some wonderful friendships and activities.
Check with NHEN’s Support Liaison network. Homeschoolers have volunteered to be the contact for their state and may have information that would useful to you. Send an email to the Support Chair telling which state you are interested in knowing more about. Another new option is to share your name and contact information so that others moving to your military installation might be able to contact you. NHEN is setting up a database of volunteer military contacts. Please consider adding your information to the database (not yet available.)
Return to Top
Is there a phone number that I can call to find out about homeschooling on any particular installation?
No central telephone numbers or offices are available to help you with homeschooling in the military. Homeschooling is big --- but not THAT big! Homeschool businesses occasionally are set up to help homeschoolers and offer to share that information for a fee. But a little legwork on your part might connect you with other homeschoolers in the trenches - local support groups or contacts ready and willing to share whatever they know!
Some installations have homeschooling information available through Family Services. Consider sharing information that you know about local groups with Family Services. They will be in a much better position to help families relocating into your area.
If you have a question about a particular military installation, contact Military@nhen.org to find out if someone has volunteered to be a homeschooling contact there.
If you have questions regarding using any of the DoDEA services at overseas installations, please read this pdf or contact DoDEA for further questions.
Office of the Chief of Staff, DoDEA
4040 North Fairfax Drive
Arlington, VA 22203-1635
(703) 696-1352
Return to Top
How can you stand moving around so often?
Moving around is often a fact of life for military families. This is certainly not applicable to all military families, but the majority of the families move every 2-4 years. Life is mainly about attitude and this is no different. Seeing each move as an opportunity to meet new friends and explore new parts of the world can be terribly exciting. Once you find out your next duty assignment, search out the tourist information for that area. Contact that installation for more information. Contact the Chamber of Commerce. Get online to access even more information. Ask around. Soon you’ll be excited --- there’s bound to be something fun there. And maybe you’ll even rephrase that question to "Wow! When do we go?"
Return to Top
Return to the main webpage for Military Homeschoolers
|
