LANSING – State Representative John Espinoza (D-Croswell) today joined a bipartisan group of legislators to announce a plan that would enter Michigan into a nationwide compact designed to make it easier for children of military families to change schools when their parents are transferred.
"Our servicemembers make incredible sacrifices as they fight to keep our nation safe, and their families make sacrifices too," said Espinoza, who retired from the U.S. Army after 20 years of service. "This plan will help ease the burden on our military families who also sacrifice every day. It will help make sure that our young students are able to get the education they need to succeed later in life."
The plan introduced today would enter Michigan in the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. The compact covers a wide range of common obstacles and inconsistencies faced by military families as they transfer from one state to another, including the transfer of records, kindergarten and first-entrance age, course sequencing, and graduation requirements.
Among the prominent provisions of the plan, the compact would:
- Allow students to enroll in school with hand-carried records until official paperwork arrives.
- Allow students to avoid repeating content or falling behind because of missed prerequisites.
- Give families a 30-day window to meet any immunization requirements.
- Prevent students from being punished for missing entrance or exit exams, or from being excluded from extracurricular activities.
- Ensure that varying graduation requirements do not prevent a student from graduating.
The compact – the product of a joint effort between state legislatures, the Department of Defense, the Council of State Governments and the education community – will go into effect once 10 states have enacted legislation agreeing to join. This type of legislation has been introduced in 19 other states, 10 of which have already taken some action.
"Moving around is a part of military life that can take a toll on the children of those who serve in our armed forces," Espinoza said. "Making it easier for kids to transition into new schools will help keep them focused on their school work and ensure that are prepared for the good-paying jobs of the 21st century."