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PCSing with kids can be tough no matter where you are going. However, coming to, and going from, an OCONUS duty station adds a new layer of difficulty. Inevitably, your children’s school life will be impacted. You could transition from an in-school environment to a homeschooling one, or one DoDEA school to another, a DoDEA school to a school on the German economy, or even one homeschool experience to another. In Germany and the Netherlands, homeschooling is a supported choice for those stationed under SOFA status.
You can enroll your student in DoDEA schools in Europe before you arrive even if you don’t know where you will be living yet. Eligible homeschoolers can also take advantage of singular DoDEA classes, school resources, extracurricular activities and even testing if they choose to register with the school.
You might have a student-athlete who wants to continue playing their sport. You might have a child with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or Section 504 plan and need to ensure that it travels with them. You might want to know if your child qualifies to enter SureStart, Kindergarten or any other development resource. Whatever the situation, a School Liaison Officer can help you out.
SLOs “support transitioning students through direct contact with parents and through facilitation of training school personnel in understanding the impact of transition and deployment stress on military students.”
SLOs help transition K-12 students into, and out of, new school systems during the PCS process no matter if the student is homeschooled, attends an on-post school or goes to school on the economy.
According to Army Morale Wellness and Recreation, SLOs have five basic core services:
1. Transition Assistance (PCS Cycle) – School Liaison Officers assist families with school transfers and help “level the playing field” for military children and youth through direct family interaction and through” paving the way” with local schools.
2. Communication Link between Command, Schools, and Families – School Liaison Officers serve as subject matter experts for installation commanders on K-12 issues helping to connect command, school, and community resources.
3. Home School Linkage and Support – School Liaison Officers assist Army families by gathering and sharing information on home schooling issues, policies, and legislation from local school districts, and helping leverage Child Youth & School [CYS] resources to support these families.
4. Partnerships in Education [PIE] – Creates a volunteer network of resources to support installation and community members who have a vested interest in the success of all youth.
5. Post-Secondary Preparations – School Liaison Officers leverage installation and school resources to provide graduating military students with access to post-secondary information and opportunities.”
As you prepare to move to Europe and right after you arrive, the SLO can make your child’s educational transition as smooth as possible. SLOs can connect your child with a youth sponsor that provides them with a peer-mentor to help them get acclimated. They also help with an incoming checklist, college and career planning, potential before and after school care and more.
There is also a comprehensive 37-page “Army Europe School Liaison Officer PCS Guide” that has information for CYS, EFMP families and students, saying goodbye to a school for kids, transportation information, lunch programs, student-athlete tips and more. You can access that guide here.
School Liaison Officers are here to make a turbulent time a little less crazy. Reach out to potential SLOs before moving and keep up contact as you and your children get settled in Europe. The Army MWR page provides a comprehensive list of SLOs and their contact information for posts across Europe.
