The School Liaison Officer’s primary function is to serve as a conduit between parents, educators, and the command so that military-connected children experience a seamless transition during the transfer between schools. Knowing that many military children move an average of every 2.9 years, School Liaison Officers can provide families with educational information to assist them as they begin their PCS planning.
The Child and Youth Education Services program supports military families with seven cores services provided by the School Liaison Officer:
- School Transition Services (PCS Cycle): School Liaison Officers assist families with school transfers and help “level the playing field” for military children and youth.
- Deployment Support: School Liaison Officers connect educators with the military deployment support system to inform them about the cycles of deployment and the tools available to assist educators in working with military children.
- Command, School, & Community Communications: School Liaison Officers serve as subject-matter experts for installation commanders on K-12 issues, helping to connect command, school, and community resources.
- Home School Linkage and Support: School Liaison Officers assist military families by gathering and sharing information on homeschooling issues, policies, and legislation from local school districts. They also help leverage military Child and Youth Program resources to support these families.
- Partnerships in Education (PIE): PIE creates a volunteer network of resources to support installation and community members who have a vested interest in the success of all youth.
- Post-Secondary Preparations: School Liaison Officers leverage installation and school resources to provide graduating military students with access to post-secondary information and opportunities.
- Special Needs System Navigation: School Liaison Officers provide information about installation and community programs and services, make referrals to the Exceptional Family Member Program, and offer assistance in navigating the administrative systems within local education agencies.
Public School Information
*Please note: In Virginia, your physical address determines the schools your children will attend.
The NAS Oceana SLO services the following Virginia Beach City Public Schools:
Enrollment/Registration
Please find specific enrollment/registration information for Virginia Beach City Public Schools at
https://www.vbschools.com/cms/one.aspx?pageId=205047 medical information, required immunizations, and forms are included. Registration must be done in person and at the zoned school site.
Private School Information
There are many private school options in the Hampton Roads area which include, but are not limited to Montessori, Religiously Affiliated, and Special Education to name a few. The Virginia Council for Private Education (VCPE) provides a complete listing of private school options for the state of Virginia at http://www.vcpe.org/. Additionally, The Private School Review at http://www.privateschoolreview.com/ can provide a listing of all schools by the local city.
Home School Information
Many parents choose to provide their child’s education outside of the public school setting and the state regulations governing the home school option vary by state. Virginia’s Department of Education (VDOE), and consequently Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS), requires parents to file a letter of intent. To view information necessary for home instruction in the city of Virginia Beach, please visit https://www.vbschools.com/academic_programs/special_education_program.
Additional home school resources for Virginia can be found online at the following websites:
Virginia Department of Education Home Instruction
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/families/private_home/index.shtml
Home Educators Association of Virginia
http://heav.org/
Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers
http://vahomeschoolers.org/
Homeschool Support in Hampton Roads
http://mooreexpressions.com/
Navy Child and Youth Programs (CYP) at some of the Hampton Roads installations provide home school families with access to facilities and programs.
Regional Homeschool Support Groups
An additional resource for military families choosing to home school.
https://hslda.org/
K-12 Special Needs
Parents of special needs students can connect with their local public school’s Parent Resource and Information Center. Virginia Beach City Public School’s link: https://www.vbschools.com/academic_programs/programs/home_instruction
Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center is the parent information and training center serving families and professionals of children with disabilities in the Commonwealth of Virginia http://www.peatc.org/peatc.cgim?template=about_PEATC
Special Ed Connection
A free web-based resource available to Navy families provides resources and tools that enable families to better understand special education requirements and available services. http://www.SpecialEdConnection.com. Please contact your local School Liaison for login access.
DirectSTEP® eCourses
Another free web-based resource can assist with navigating the complexities of special education laws and procedures.https://elibrary.cnic-n9portal.net/document-library/?id=815
Military OneSource
Offers assistance to families with special needs family members at their website
https://www.militaryonesource.mil/
Specialized Training of Military Parents (STOMP)
https://wapave.org/
Parents’ Guide to Special Education
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/special_ed/parents/parents_guide.pdf
Guidance for Military Families with Students in Special Education
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/special_ed/parents/military_families_sped_guidance_.pdf
Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)
Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) Liaisons are located at Fleet and Family Support Centers and provide information and referral to help EFM families identify and access appropriate military, national, and community resources. They assist in the navigation of EFMP related programs and systems and are responsible http://www.navymwrmidlant.com/marketing/web/testing/MECH-SLO
- Provision of information, referral, and systems navigation to special needs families
- Linking families with the available military, national, and local community resources
- Non-medical case management
- Development and maintenance of Individualized Service Plans (ISP)
- Partner with Military Treatment Facility (MTF) Coordinators to provide information, education and marketing
Youth Sponsorship
The Youth Sponsorship program is designed to assist young people in making the transition from one installation to another successfully. It is our goal to help incoming youth adjust and get connected with a youth sponsor at the installation. Youth Sponsors will provide information about area schools, attractions, and the surrounding community. This program is created by and for youth with youth involvement in every aspect of the program. To apply for a youth sponsor please complete the request form and email it to your School Liaison Officer.
Our website so that parents can get on the waiting list for military childcare. https://militarychildcare.com/
Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA):
DODEA NDSP is the website you need to visit if you are PCSing to an area overseas that does not have a DODEA school.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the kindergarten age cutoff date?
- Do I have to live in the Zone where the school is located to attend?
- Yes, however, there are exceptions for out of zone requests that must be submitted for approval to the school principal. There must be an extenuating circumstance, such as childcare, and then it is dependent upon school capacity.
- In July of 2018 VA passed HB1085 for Public schools allowing open enrollment for military families. It requires any local school board of a school division in which a military installation or other military housing is located to establish and implement policies to provide for the enrollment to any school of any student residing on a military installation or in military housing within the school division, upon the request of his parent. The bill permits such policies to include certain conditions. The bill requires a copy of such policies to be posted on the division’s website and to be available to the public upon request. VBCPS has implemented this similar to their other out of zone requests depending upon school capacity and extenuating circumstances.
- Do the local schools have talented and gifted programs? Yes, at all levels
- Is there school choice or other school options in the area? In VA your address determines your school.
- What schedule does the local high school follow…traditional, block, A/B Block…?? A/B days
Resources
Naval Air Station Oceana Relocation Assistance
https://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrma/installations/nas_oceana/ffr/support_services/military_support/relocation_assistance.html
A4L Transition Program
https://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrma/installations/nas_oceana/ffr/support_services/military_support/transition_assistance.html
Academic Support
http://www.tutor.com/military; https://www.khanacademy.org/
SAT/ACT Preparation
http://www.eknowledge.com/allAccessLandingPage.php?coupon=3A8E9CEFCE
Student Aid
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/
Military Dependent Scholarship List
http://www.navymwrmidlant.com/modules/media/?do=download&id=4a452423-54a1-421f-b758-fd05e97184cf
Military School Liaisons (All branches)
https://www.dodea.edu/Partnership/schoolLiaisonofficers.cfm
Department of Defense Education Activity
https://www.dodea.edu/
Interstate Compact on Education Opportunity for Military Children
http://www.mic3.net/
The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC)
http://www.militarychild.org/
National Military Family Association (NMFA)
http://www.militaryfamily.org/
Military OneSource
http://www.militaryonesource.mil/
My Navy Portal (PCS Support)
https://my.navy.mil/
Navy MWR
https://www.navymwr.org/
For additional information please contact the regional SLO at [email protected] or call 757-322-2679.
