HARKER HEIGHTS, Texas — The Military Child Education Coalition® announced today a partnership with fellow nonprofit Partners in PROMISE to collaborate on an issue paper to address improvements and standardization practices for military-connected families with a child with special needs.
“We are thrilled to be working alongside Partners in PROMISE to offer recommendations for enhanced awareness and streamlined support that we feel will have an immediate, lasting impact for all military-connected children with special needs,” said MCEC President and CEO Dr. Becky Porter.
This just released issue paper highlights expected changes to be put into action as spelled out in the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. In addition to the provisions expected in the 2021 NDAA, MCEC and Partners in PROMISE make the following recommendations for inclusion in future policy, practice and legislation:
• Ensure remote school enrollment for all military families.
• Allow families to maintain IEPs at a new the duty station after a PCS for up to six months.
• Require parental consent to all IEP changes before changes can be implemented.
• Instruct State Education Agencies and the U.S. Department of Education to gather and provide data on special education disputes involving military children, utilizing the existing Military Student Identifier.
“Partners in PROMISE has already become such a strong champion for raising awareness to Protect the Rights Of Military children In Special Education,” added Dr. Porter. “MCEC shares their passion, commitment, and advocacy, and we are proud to work with them to make a positive difference in the lives of all military-connected children with special needs.”
MCEC® used data obtained from its 2020 Military Kids NOW Education Survey, as part of the issue paper, which reflected responses from across all 50 states, two U.S. territories, and 21 countries, to help bolster recommendations for changes to mitigate the stressors for military children with special needs.
Learn more about the role MCEC plays globally at MilitaryChild.org.