History of ACMC

2. History of ACMC The Arkansas Coalition for Military Children was created in November of 2012 as a result of the October 2012 Little Rock, Arkansas Public Engagement Event presented by the Military Child Education Coalition. During the Public Engagement event, participants from all over Arkansas developed mission and vision statements in support of Arkansas’s over 17,000 military children. A great many of the participants volunteered to form a group in order to ensure this mission and vision would become a reality. This group became the Arkansas Coalition for Military Children.

3. Vision Statement “All Arkansas Military Children & Youth and their parent(s) or guardian(s) will have access to information and resources needed to facilitate enhancement of innate resilience to thrive in good and challenging times.”

4. Mission Statement • "Arkansas Coalition for Military Children will develop and sustain a process to support children and youth of Military Families who have served or are currently serving our nation.”

5. Accomplishments to Date • Creation of interactive website: www.arcoalitionformilchildren.org • ACT 514….To Require Public Schools To Report The Enrollment Of A Student Who Is A Military Dependent. Sponsor….Representative Charlotte Douglas • ACT 146….To Adopt The Interstate Compact On Educational Opportunity For Military Children And To Remove Barriers To Educational Success Imposed On Children Of Military Families. Sponsor….Senator Eddie Williams and supported by Governor Beebe • ACT 1289….To Provide Authority For Additional Student Absences For National Guard Members Between Grade Eleven And Grade Twelve For Completion Of Basic Training. Sponsor….Representative Stephanie Malone

6. Accomplishments to Date Continued • HB 1709….To Provide Additional Opportunities To Obtain A High School Diploma; And To Establish An Alternative High School Completion Program Focused On A Career Path Through Vocational – Technical Training. Sponsor….Representative Ken Bragg. • House Bill 1709 was recommended for study in the Interim by the Joint Interim House Education Committee. A. Mahony asked Representative Bragg for representation on this study group by LTC Shannon Saucy, Susan Waggoner and Alice Mahony. • Statewide network of communities and resources recognizing the special challenges facing military children • Increased community awareness of the military families in their communities

7. Members • Arkansas Army and Air National Guard • Little Rock Air Force Base • Arkansas Tech University • University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences • State Board of Education • ARVets • Blackwood Team • UofA Fayetteville • Veterans Administration Cabot School District Operation: Military Kids Camp Alliance Your Organization Here!

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9. Resources “A Paper Hug” Stephanie Skolmoski ISBN: 0-9786425-0-3 www.apaperhug.com ‘Much more available online’ “Building Resilience in Children and Teens: Giving Kids Roots and Wings” 2nd Edition Kenneth R. Ginsberg, MD, MS Ed, FAAP Published by the American Academy of Pediatrics ISBN: 978-158110-551-3 “The Electric Company Special Edition”—For Military Kids familiesnearandfar.org “Finding My Way: A Teen’s Guide to Living with Parent Who Has Experienced Trauma” Michelle D. Sherman, Ph. D. & DeAnne M. Sherman Seed of Hope Books (www.seedsofhopebooks.com) ISBN: 978-1-59298-117-5 “Helping Children Grieve & Grow: A Guide for Those Who Care” Donna O’Toole with Jerre Cory Compassion Books, Inc. www.compassionbooks.com/800-970-4220 “A Policy Leaders’ Guide to Military Children” www.MilitaryChild.com “When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death” Dino Tales: Life Guides for Families Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown Little, Brown and Company 978-0316-10917-8 (hc) 978-0316-11955-9 (pb) “You and Your Military Hero: Building Positive Thinking Skills During Your Hero’s Deployment” Sara Jensen-Fritz, MS, Psy.S., Paula Jones-Johnson, BSW, M. Ed, and Thea L. Zitzow, M. Ed Beaver’s Pond Press, Inc. www.BeaversPondBooks.com/800-901-3480 ISBN: 1-59298-268-9 There are other valuable resources at www. MilitaryChild.org.

10. Letter to Educators YOU MAY HAVE AN AT-RISK CHILD IF HIS OR HER FAMILY IS EXPERIENCING A DEPLOYMENT. It is almost certain that one or more students in your school will be affected at any given time. Arkansas National Guard will continue to have Service Members deployed in overseas contingencies for several years. The affects of past deployments will continue to be a factor in our Arkansas Guard Families for quite some time. The well being of our family members is a vital part of the mission of the Arkansas National Guard’s State Family Program office. We are here to support, educate and encourage of the Arkansas National Guard family members and the communities in which they live. Educators can access information through Family Programs, Child & Youth Program website www.arguard.org/families/youth or by visiting the National Guard Joint Services Support website at www.jointservicessupport.org and register as a community member. Another excellent resource is the Arkansas Coalition for Military Children. You can access their website at: www.arcoalitionformilchildren.org. Thank you in advance for your support and attention you give to our military children. Please feel free to contact the Lead Child and Youth Program Coordinator, C.J. Walden at 501-212-4077 or catherine.j.walden2.ctr@mail.mil for further information and resources.

11. Overview of the Interstate Compact Placement and Attendance Students from military families often miss out on appropriate placement in required classes, advanced placement, and special-needs programs while awaiting evaluation at the new school. The Compact requires cooperation in these areas:  Course and educational program placement. A receiving school district in a member state must initially honor placement of a student based on his or her enrollment in the sending state, provided the new school has a similar or equivalent program. The receiving school is allowed to evaluate the student after placement to ensure it is appropriate, but it may not put children into "holding classes" while they await assessment. The receiving school may allow the student to attend similar educational courses in other schools within the district if the receiving school does not offer such educational courses.  Special education services. Students covered by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) will receive the same services (although not necessarily identical programs) identified in the individual education plan (IEP) from the sending state. This is a parallel requirement under federal law.  Placement flexibility. School districts are encouraged to determine if course or program prerequisites can be waived for students who have completed similar coursework in the sending school district. This process will allow students to take more advanced courses rather than repeat similar basic courses.  Absence related to deployment activities. Students in member states may request additional, excused absences to visit with their parent or legal guardian immediately before, during, and after deployment. Schools have flexibility in approving absences if there are competing circumstances such as state testing or if the student already has excessive absences. PCSSD has established a supportive policy, contact the SLO for information. Enrollment Military parents are accustomed to delays and frustrations in getting their children enrolled in a new school. The Compact has provisions for member states to facilitate enrollment in these areas:  Educational Records. When a family leaves a school district in a member state, the parents may receive a set of "unofficial records" to carry to the new school in another member state. It will include all the information the new school needs to enroll and place the child until the official records are received. In addition, the Compact requires all "sending" school districts within member states to send official transcripts within ten days of a request from the "receiving" state school district.  Immunizations. If a child transferring to a member state needs additional immunizations, he/she is allowed to enroll and begin school. Parents then have thirty days for their child to get the required immunizations. If a series of immunizations is required, it must be started within thirty calendar days of enrollment. Tuberculosis (TB) testing is not covered under the Compact, since the TB test is not an immunization but rather a health screening.  Kindergarten and first grade entrance age. If the entrance age requirement in the new school system is different, transitioning children may continue in the same grade if they have already started kindergarten or first grade in a school where the family was previously stationed. This provision also allows children to move up to first or second grade regardless of age requirements if they have completed kindergarten or first grade in another state.

12. Overview of the Interstate Compact Eligibility The Compact asks school districts in member states to examine their rules for eligibility to allow children of military parents to have the continuity they need.  Enrollment. When a child of a deployed parent is staying with a non-custodial parent, a relative, or a friend (officially acting in place of the parents) who lives outside of the home school district, the child may continue to attend his or her own school as long as the care provider ensures transportation to school. The Compact also stipulates that a power of attorney for guardianship is sufficient for enrollment and all other actions requiring parental participation or consent.  Extracurricular participation. When children transfer to a new school, their participation in extracurricular activities will be facilitated -- provided they're eligible -- even if application deadlines and tryouts have passed. Schools must make reasonable accommodation but are not required to hold spaces open for military-related transferees. AR Athletic Assn. works with the School Liaison Officer on a case by case basis. AR Athletic Assn. is the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA). All coaches, band and choir directors or any activity director under the AAA umbrella need to know this. Graduation School transitions can be especially challenging for high school students. The Compact requires school districts to make the following accommodations to facilitate on-time graduation:  Course waivers. School districts in member states may waive courses required for graduation if similar coursework has been completed in another school. Such waivers are not mandatory under the Compact, but a school district must show reasonable justification for denial of a waiver.  Exit exams. Under the Compact, a school district may accept the sending state's exit exams, achievement tests, or other tests required for graduation instead of requiring the student to meet its own testing requirements. States have flexibility to determine what tests it will accept or require the student to take.  Transfers during senior year. If a student moves during senior year and the receiving state is unable to make the necessary accommodations for required courses and exit exams, the two school districts must work together to obtain a diploma from the sending school so the student can graduate on time. POC Terry B. Shaw, SLO, 19FSS/FSDE, LRAFB; Email: terry.shaw@us.af.mil POC Catherine (CJ) Walden, LCYPC NGAR; Email: catherine.j.walden2.ctr@mail.mil

13. Stages of Deployment • Pre-deployment notification • One month to a year • Deployment • 1st month • Sustainment • 1st month to the next to the last month • Pre-reunion • The month before the soldier returns home • Reunion • One to six months. All phases have distinct issues.

14. http://arcoalitionformilchildren.org/home.html Please check the website weekly to learn about upcoming events, relevant news, and volunteer opportunities. If you have new links or events related to Arkansas Military Children, please send to: Michael Stoker mstoker@atu.edu