- Information about your upcoming duty station and educational options in your new community
- Connection to a youth sponsor who can answer your child/youth’s questions about their new school/community from a peer’s perspective
- Assistance with the steps to prepare for the withdrawal of your children/youth from their current schools
- Provide information about the local educational options and enrollment processes
- Help with questions about compliance and solutions regarding the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children
- Facilitate two way communication between the school and parent
- Assist in making connections with homeschool co-ops or support groups
- Answers to your questions about schools, homeschooling, special education, scholarships, transitions and more.
- Parent education opportunities about college and career readiness, preparing for transition and the Interstate Compact
- Provide information on student enrollment in the local school system
- Educate parents on the local school system, policies, procedures, programs and schedules
- Support homeschool families by providing the applicable laws and regulations as well as help parents make connections with other homeschool families and available resources.
- School Transition and Deployment Support
- Installation and School Communication
- Partnerships in Education
- Homeschool Connections
- Post-Secondary Education/Opportunities
- I just received PCS orders. How can my SLO help?
- The Army’s Youth Sponsorship Program
- Finding a School
- Information about your upcoming duty station and educational options in your new community
- Connection to a youth sponsor who can answer your child/youth’s questions about their new school/community from a peer’s perspective
- Assistance with the steps to prepare for the withdrawal of your children/youth from their current schools
- Provide information about the local educational options and enrollment processes
- Help with questions about compliance and solutions regarding the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children
- Facilitate two way communication between the school and parent
- Assist in making connections with homeschool co-ops or support groups
- Answers to your questions about schools, homeschooling, special education, scholarships, transitions and more.
- Parent education opportunities about college and career readiness, preparing for transition and the Interstate Compact
- Provide information on student enrollment in the local school system
- Educate parents on the local school system, policies, procedures, programs and schedules
- Support homeschool families by providing the applicable laws and regulations as well as help parents make connections with other homeschool families and available resources.
Army School Support Services
Military life presents unique challenges to students and their Families, and School Support Services can help. School Support Services, which is a part of Child & Youth Services (CYS), provides a wide range of services through the School Liaison Program. Our School Liaison Officers (SLOs) work directly with Families, educators, and military units to ensure smooth transitions and deliver resources to military-connected students and their Families. These services are provided at no cost to you, so reach out and meet your SLO today
Click on the video below to find out even more about School Liaison Officers (SLOs). The Facebook Live event was presented by Military OneSource featuring a panel of School Liaison experts from each service, explaining the benefits of the School Liaison program!
How can my SLO help when I PCS?
Your garrison SLO is available to you whenever the need arises, but they can be especially helpful when you receive PCS orders. Below you will find some of the supports that the SLO can offer before, during, and after a PCS relocation.
Getting ready to move:
Once you arrive:
During your assignment:
Please see below for additional resources to support your Family.
Home | Military Kids Connect (health.mil)
provides online age-appropriate resources to help parents, teachers and children cope with the unique challenges of military life.
Plan My Move: PCS Moving Checklist & Resources • Military OneSource
Rules-Book-20190905_Second-Version_20211230.pdf (mic3.net)
This site details the components of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children which address the key transition issues military Families experience including enrollment, placement, attendance, eligibility, and graduation.
If you have a question regarding this document, or you are experiencing a problem with one of these key issues, contact your SLO. Your SLO is able to assist by connecting with both the sending and receiving school to help resolve these types of issues. If it is not possible to resolve the issue locally, the SLO will help you work with the state commission, and if needed, the national office.
Army’s Youth Sponsorship Program
Does your child have 101 questions about your Family’s next duty station? Let a Youth Sponsor answer them! Youth Sponsors, with guidance from adults in CYS programs and local schools, connect with children/youth before their arrival at a new duty station, provide them with information about their new communities and answer questions from a youth perspective.
When you receive your PCS orders, contact your SLO to request a Youth Sponsor for your children/youth. Upon arrival at your new installation, Youth Sponsors will greet new students and provide tours. They will also invite your children/youth to events or activities that can provide opportunities to make new friends and gain a sense of belonging into their new community.
Interested in becoming a Youth Sponsor?
Children/youth who want to help their peers – while earning service hours and developing leadership skills – can volunteer to be a Youth Sponsor. To find out how, contact your local SLO.
Finding a School
Your School Liaison Officer (SLO) can help you find the most updated information about local schools and educational resources. Your SLO can not determine which school setting is best for your children/youth, but they can provide information about the opportunities available.
Your SLO can:
Homeschool
Homeschool Families can rely on their SLO to provide the most current laws, regulations, and policies for the local area. In addition, the SLO can connect you to other homeschool families and co-ops. They will also be able to inform you of the opportunities for your children/youth in extracurricular activities and CYS programs.
To access information provided by the Home School Legal Defense Association, please see the link below. At this site, you will find information on home school law for different states as well information on selecting curriculum, meeting the needs of students/youth with disabilities, and supporting students through high school and beyond.
HSLDA - Making homeschooling possible
Resources for Students with Special Needs
If you have a child/youth with special needs, your School Liaison Officer (SLO) can help connect you with your local installation’s Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) representative. Your SLO can also provide information about local processes for special education referrals, evaluations, and services. These processes also apply to students who are homeschooled!
Please see the resources below for other relevant information for Families with children/youth with disabilities.
EFMP Info for Service Providers & Leaders • Military OneSource
This website provides access to personalized support for Families. It also has a link to EFMP and Me.
EFMP | Education Directory for Children with Special Needs (militaryonesource.mil)
The Education Directory for Children With Special Needs provides military families who have children with special needs (birth-21) the resources they need to make informed assignment decisions and experience easier transitions.
DirectSTEP | Army Family Web Portal
DirectSTEP provides no-cost, Army sponsored online training for educators and parents on a host of special education topics such as understanding federal requirements, best practices for behavior management, IDEA eligibility, IEPs and more.
Parent Information/Workshops
Not sure how to prepare your children/youth for a transition? Have questions on internet safety? Want to prep your kids for standardized testing? School Liaison Officers offer parent workshops that give you information and resources to help navigate parenthood, as well as the opportunity to network with other parents. Contact your local SLO to find out more about workshop schedules. If you would like to participate in a workshop that is not currently offered, please ask! We are happy to develop a workshop to meet your needs.
Perhaps you are not comfortable attending a workshop or maybe your schedule is not flexible. Ask your SLO for a one to one meeting to learn more about your topic of interest.
Please also see the links below for additional resources.
Warning Signs of Suicidal Ideation - Suicide can affect anyone, including children and youth. Take care of the young people you know. Recognize the warning signs. Review this infograph to learn more.
Post-Secondary Education/Opportunities
Our support doesn’t end with K-12 education. If you have children preparing for academic life after high school, your SLO can provide information about attending college or vocational/technical school. They can also connect you to resources to learn about military careers and joining the civilian workforce.
Additional Educational Resources
Please see the links below to additional educational resources you may find useful.
Tutor.com for U.S. Military Families makes live tutors available online 24/7 to help with more than 40 core subjects and standardized test preparation.
Khan Academy: is a personalized learning resource for all ages. Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom.
Parents & Students
No matter where you are stationed, School Support Services are available to help your children/youth build resilience and increase student achievement. The program is designed to meet the needs of the community, and we are committed to supporting military-connected Families.
School Liaison Officers (SLOs) implement the School Liaison Program which supports Families and students experiencing all types of transitions. SLOs work diligently to maintain a flow of communication between parents, schools, and installations. Please call or visit our offices for information related to:
Please select a link below to learn more about how your SLO can support you and your Family.
Homeschool
Resources for Students with Special Needs
Parent Workshops
Post-Secondary Education/Opportunities
Additional Educational Resources
How can my SLO help when I PCS?
Your garrison SLO is available to you whenever the need arises, but they can be especially helpful when you receive PCS orders. Below you will find some of the supports that the SLO can offer before, during, and after a PCS relocation.
Getting ready to move:
Once you arrive:
During your assignment:
Please see below for additional resources to support your Family.
Home | Military Kids Connect (health.mil)
provides online age-appropriate resources to help parents, teachers and children cope with the unique challenges of military life.
Plan My Move: PCS Moving Checklist & Resources • Military OneSource
Rules-Book-20190905_Second-Version_20211230.pdf (mic3.net)
This site details the components of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children which address the key transition issues military Families experience including enrollment, placement, attendance, eligibility, and graduation.
If you have a question regarding this document, or you are experiencing a problem with one of these key issues, contact your SLO. Your SLO is able to assist by connecting with both the sending and receiving school to help resolve these types of issues. If it is not possible to resolve the issue locally, the SLO will help you work with the state commission, and if needed, the national office.
Army’s Youth Sponsorship Program
Does your child have 101 questions about your Family’s next duty station? Let a Youth Sponsor answer them! Youth Sponsors, with guidance from adults in CYS programs and local schools, connect with children/youth before their arrival at a new duty station, provide them with information about their new communities and answer questions from a youth perspective.
When you receive your PCS orders, contact your SLO to request a Youth Sponsor for your children/youth. Upon arrival at your new installation, Youth Sponsors will greet new students and provide tours. They will also invite your children/youth to events or activities that can provide opportunities to make new friends and gain a sense of belonging into their new community.
Interested in becoming a Youth Sponsor?
Children/youth who want to help their peers – while earning service hours and developing leadership skills – can volunteer to be a Youth Sponsor. To find out how, contact your local SLO.
Your School Liaison Officer (SLO) can help you find the most updated information about local schools and educational resources. Your SLO can not determine which school setting is best for your children/youth, but they can provide information about the opportunities available.
Your SLO can:
Homeschool
Homeschool Families can rely on their SLO to provide the most current laws, regulations, and policies for the local area. In addition, the SLO can connect you to other homeschool families and co-ops. They will also be able to inform you of the opportunities for your children/youth in extracurricular activities and CYS programs.
To access information provided by the Home School Legal Defense Association, please see the link below. At this site, you will find information on home school law for different states as well information on selecting curriculum, meeting the needs of students/youth with disabilities, and supporting students through high school and beyond.
HSLDA - Making homeschooling possible
Resources for Students with Special Needs
If you have a child/youth with special needs, your School Liaison Officer (SLO) can help connect you with your local installation’s Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) representative. Your SLO can also provide information about local processes for special education referrals, evaluations, and services. These processes also apply to students who are homeschooled!
Please see the resources below for other relevant information for Families with children/youth with disabilities.
EFMP Info for Service Providers & Leaders • Military OneSource
This website provides access to personalized support for Families. It also has a link to EFMP and Me.
EFMP | Education Directory for Children with Special Needs (militaryonesource.mil)
The Education Directory for Children With Special Needs provides military families who have children with special needs (birth-21) the resources they need to make informed assignment decisions and experience easier transitions.
DirectSTEP | Army Family Web Portal
DirectSTEP provides no-cost, Army sponsored online training for educators and parents on a host of special education topics such as understanding federal requirements, best practices for behavior management, IDEA eligibility, IEPs and more.
Parent Information/Workshops
Not sure how to prepare your children/youth for a transition? Have questions on internet safety? Want to prep your kids for standardized testing? School Liaison Officers offer parent workshops that give you information and resources to help navigate parenthood, as well as the opportunity to network with other parents. Contact your local SLO to find out more about workshop schedules. If you would like to participate in a workshop that is not currently offered, please ask! We are happy to develop a workshop to meet your needs.
Perhaps you are not comfortable attending a workshop or maybe your schedule is not flexible. Ask your SLO for a one to one meeting to learn more about your topic of interest.
Please also see the links below for additional resources.
Warning Signs of Suicidal Ideation - Suicide can affect anyone, including children and youth. Take care of the young people you know. Recognize the warning signs. Review this infograph to learn more.
Post-Secondary Education/Opportunities
Our support doesn’t end with K-12 education. If you have children preparing for academic life after high school, your SLO can provide information about attending college or vocational/technical school. They can also connect you to resources to learn about military careers and joining the civilian workforce.
Additional Educational Resources
Please see the links below to additional educational resources you may find useful.
Tutor.com for U.S. Military Families makes live tutors available online 24/7 to help with more than 40 core subjects and standardized test preparation.
Khan Academy: is a personalized learning resource for all ages. Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom.
