Know the Facts: Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (MIC3)

They Serve 2 is dedicated to support military families in transition. One of the most important aspects of a smooth move (or PCS in the military world) is ensuring that a child's education is not disrupted. Here are the facts from Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel & Secretary of Education Anne Duncan's speeches at the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) National Training Seminar on July 9, 2013:

1. Nearly 70% of married service members have children, that is 1.2 million school aged military children.

2. A military child will move on average 6-9 times between kindergarten and high school graduation (3x the national average).

3. 80% of military children attend public schools.

Recently the 46 states have adopted the laws of MIC3, the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for military children, which establishes standards for enrollment placement, eligibility, attendance, and graduation. This law directly benefits nearly 98% of children from active duty families, but unfortunately many educators are neither aware of the law nor the needs of military students and how they can help.

It is critical that both educators, administrators, and the military families become educated on their rights under MIC3; therefore, MCEC has partnered with DoD and Joining Forces to create "Educate the Educator," a joint program that helps teacher colleges incorporate information about military children into their training curriculum. The national benefit for military children is that there will be uniform treatment as military students transfer between school districts and states.

They Serve 2 wants to help ensure that military families know their rights, and get the necessary help to allow their children to be successful. We are here to help, just contact us at Charlotte@TheyServe2.org.

You can download MIC3 Commission Rules from November 2012 here or for more information visit www.mic3.net.

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