Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Counselor Dr. Dan Gomez

1. Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) CounselorDr. Dan Gomez Education Service Center Region 20 1314 Hines Ave San Antonio, TX 78208

2. BRAC in TEXAS • Only three BRAC positions in Texas • Dr. Dan Gomez, ESC Region 20 San Antonio (1/2 time) • Mrs. Doris Garrett, ESC Region 12, Waco (full time) • Mr. Ken George, ESC Region 19, El Paso (1/2 time)

3. BRAC Counselor Contact Information • Dr. Daniel (Dan) Gomez • Dan.gomez@esc20.net • (210) 370-5343 • (210) 370-5754 FAX • Counseling Specialist, ESC 20 • 1314 Hines Ave, San Antonio, TX 78208

4. Important Web Sites and Resources for BRAC • Military Child Education Coalition www.Militarychild.org • Resources for military families www.TEA.state.tx.us/mil • Graduation requirements www.TEA.state.tx.us.curriculum/ugr • Post 9/11 GI Bill • Military Home Front http://cs.mhf.dod

5. Role and Mission of the BRAC Counselor • Works with School District counselors to provide information updates to military families transitioning to Texas from other states or countries • Acts as a liaison between Base or Post school officials to set up training for district counselors, teachers, or parents on issues related to military families adjusting to Texas public schools • Acts as a resource help desk for parents to provide information on graduation requirements for students coming to Texas and especially the San Antonio area • Coordinates with the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) to set up training workshops for district counselors and other school personnel in the area of assistance to military families

6. What’s new in BRAC • Growth in San Antonio area—Ft Sam Houston Basic Medical Training > Navy, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard • Joint Base San Antonio • Will provide medical basic training to all branches • Air Force Cyber Command at Lackland AFB • Impact is more families coming to San Antonio public schools, charter schools, and private schools • BRAC training workshops for counselors to use in supporting military families

7. BRAC Training for Counselors, Social Workers, School Personnel • Coping with Deployment, August 10, 2010, CC100810-K23, ESC 20, 8:00 a.m.-12 noon; Fee: No Charge; This course is taught by Red Cross professionals, and provides strategies for parents and military families to help prior to, during, and after deployments of the military members. Specific checklists and ideas for school personnel to help families of deployed members plan for and cope with deployment upheavals. • Military—Questions You Had About the Military But Were Afraid to Ask, September 2, 2010, CC100902-K23, ESC 20, Fee: No Charge. This workshop provides information on how the military works, relocates families, deployments, and clarifies some myths and misinformation you may have about the military. • Diversity –Students from Military Families and other Mobile Students. September 30, 2010. Workshop #CC100930-K23; Fee: No Charge; Location: Educational Resource Center, 8205 Palisades Drive, Judson ISD, Live Oak, TX. This course covers needs faced by children in families of deployed parents, injured parents, and transitioning students from other states , other countries; provides strategies for counselors and school personnel to help students adjust to school. • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Effects on Family Members, Especially Children, October 6, 2010; Workshop #CC101006, 8:00 a.m.—12 noon; ESC 20, Fee: No charge; Defines post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and covers the effects on military members as well as family victims of other tragic events; provides strategies for guidance counselors and social workers to assist families. • We Serve, Too! Military and At risk Families Coping with Relocation, Deployments and Upheaval, November 2, 2010, 8:00 a.m.—12 noon, Workshop # CC101102-K23; Fee: No charge. This workshop provides ideas to Elementary and Middle School Guidance Counselors and Social Workers to assist children of deployed parents/ grief or loss, or stress management activities for individual/group counseling.

8. BRAC Training (Continued) • Interstate Compact Agreement for Educational Opportunity for Military Children, December 3, 2010, 8:30-11:30 a.m.; ESC 20,Workshop # CC101203, Fee: No charge. Provides updates on changes and sample cases on the interstate compact agreement which impacts placement, enrollment, benefits, graduation requirements, assessments, and extracurricular of military students coming into Region 20 school districts. Provides ideas to counselors and administrators on how to support/assist new military students in making a smooth transition to a new school. • Supporting Children of the National Guard and Reserve Institute (Conducted by Military Child Education Coalition)(MCEC), ESC 20, 8:30 a.m.--4:30 p.m. December 9-10, 2010; ESC-20, Fee: No Cost. Provides means of support networks for children of the Army National Guard, Reserve components, and geographically isolated families. Register at the web site militarychild.org . • Similar courses as those above will be available in Spring/Summer 2010. Please continue to check this web site for updates.

9. Samples of Improved Benefits for Veterans from Deployment Areas • Educational Benefits • Indiana Wesleyan University—Degree completely online • Military Discount and for all military personnel and their spouses with proper military ID • Dallas Baptist University—Patriot Veteran’s Opportunity Scholarship Program. The VA and DBU pay 100% of tuition and fees for veterans receiving the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill. gibill@dbu.eduor www.patriot2patriot.com • Home loans, financial assistance • Educational benefits for deployed military members and their spouses during deployments

10. Post 9/11 GI Bill Web Sites • New GI Bill overview Military.com/money-for-school • Supportive Education for the Returning Veteran –SERV ; www.defenselink.mil/news entitled Program Helps Veterans Transition from War Zone to Campus • GI BILL Transferability of educational benefits (TEB) www.defenselink.mil/home/features • In-State tuition for Military Members and their Families (Military Home Front); http://cs.mhf.dod/content

11. Interstate Compact—Educational Opportunity for Military Children • INTERSTATE COMPACT ON EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR MILITARY CHILDREN as of August 2010 • WHAT IT DOES • considers as paramount the continuation of a student’s academic program • removes barriers in educational systems due to military moves/deployments • ensures the educational rigor for students is maintained • establishes agreement between states and non compact states on how to handle issues the same way • establishes a state council in each state • PRESENT STATUS • 30 states have enacted it; as of Aug 2010 • Governor Perry signed the compact on May 30, 2009 • Council of State Governments (CSG) and Department of Defense Office of Personnel and Readiness has worked on the compact since 2006. • Contact at CSG is Keith Scott, Director, National Center for Interstate Compacts, • (859) 244-8247, kscott@csg.org

12. Interstate Compact (continued) • APPLICABILITY • applies to the children of active duty military including National Guard • or Reservists on active duty, veterans who are severely injured/medically discharged/retired/die on active duty • applies for a period of one year after discharge/retire/death • ENROLLMENT • must send official educational record within 10 days, unofficial copy given to student to hand carry; student may use it to enroll • have 30 days to obtain required immunizations • allows student to continue enrollment at grade levels K through 12 in the receiving state the same as their sending • ELIGIBILITY • special power of attorney is sufficient for the purposes of enrollment • a local education agency may not charge local tuition to a military child. • child does may remain in same school when living with other relatives • military children will be given opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities if qualified

13. Interstate Compact (continued) • PLACEMENT • includes Honors, International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, vocational, technical and career pathways courses • receiving school can reevaluate • provides flexibility in waiving course/program prerequisites • provides comparable services in special education • allows excused absence for students to visit deployed parents before, during leave, and/or after deployment • GRADUATION • grants waiver authority to receiving school for similar courses at sending school • for disapproved waivers, receiving school provides alternative coursework so that student will graduate on time • Texas requires completion of the TAKS for graduation; on occasion, will accept exit or end-of-course exams, national norm-referenced tests, or alternative testing for graduation purposes from the sending state; • when transferring during senior year, allows student to receive a diploma from the sending state if student is deemed ineligible to graduate from receiving state

14. Career Decisions! • Start in 9th grade or earlier if possible • Keep your grades up because of future applications for scholarships, grants, financial assistance • See your guidance counselor for financial help available • Remember!!! 7 OUT OF 10 JOBS REQUIRE SOMETHING MORE THAN HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA • Vocational training: mechanics, plumbers, cosmotology, paralegal, electricians, hourly paid employees still require certifications or licensure. Have to attend business school or technical school. • Even the military requires a high school diploma because it is now so technical, • And they have enough qualified volunteers • No tatoos

15. What’s next? • Local opportunities? • Are you willing/able to move elsewhere to get a good education/job? • Do parents expect you to stay home and help with financial help? You may have to go against their traditions/cultural beliefs. • Bullying • Cyberbullying-- • Pressure from Good Friends with Bad Ideas—let’s do an exercise-get you to do something that you think you won’t do…..

16. At Risk Behavior Prevention • Abstinence • Remember that drug use/abuse is illegal and bad for your body • Absences are disastrous for your academic career and future **affect your grades; opportunity for scholarships and teacher recommendations. Even if you score high on SAT

17. Job Description--Student • How Well Do You Do Your Job??? • Your job is to learn, pay attention, bring supplies • Arrive on time— • Do your work…..good, better, best? • Get along with other students; get along with teachers • Respect the boss (teacher, principal, custodians, cafeteria workers, parent volunteers) • Use appropriate language and best behavior • Take care of your belongings and school property • Help others • What is your pay for doing a good job? • What happens if you don’t do your job, or do it poorly? • What happens to adults if they don’t do their jobs at their work?

18. The Future • What do you see yourself doing 5 years from now? Ten years from now? • What kind of job would you like to have? Work outside, inside, in Texas, or some other state? Wear professional clothing, shirt and tie for men, business attire and heels for women? Medical white coats for doctors, pharmacists? • What kind of car would you like and how much education and job is needed to buy that car? • What kind of dwelling do you like? A house, apartment, rent or own?