Education of military children part of Presidential Initiative
Educational opportunities for military children will become a priority for the U.S. Department of Education under a new plan announced by schools chief Arne Duncan. As part of the Obama administration's effort to boost support and services for the military, the Education Department detailed ways it will work to enhance the educational opportunities of and improve outcomes for military servicemen and their children.
"The men and women who serve in our nation's armed forces place a high value on education and the availability of quality educational opportunities for their children," Secretary of Education Duncan said. "The U.S. Department of Education is committed to providing children of military families the support and education they need to thrive, as well as expanding educational opportunities for military spouses and veterans."
The administration released "Strengthening Our Military Families: Meeting America's Commitment," a report that includes a pledge by nearly 50 federal agencies, in response to President Barack Obama's call for a coordinated, federal effort to support and improve the lives of servicemembers and their families.
According to the report, the top four strategic priorities that will, if addressed, help military families better navigate the challenges they face include: improving the well-being and psychological health of the military family; ensuring excellence in military children's education and their development; developing career and educational opportunities for military spouses; and making quality child care more available to the families of the armed forces.
The Department of Education plans to help tackle these priorities by allocating more resources to supporting the educational endeavors of military families. One way the department will do that is by directing discretionary grant money to the military effort. The financial aid process for military servicemembers on active duty is also being streamlined to accommodate their circumstances. The Education Department is also looking for more ways to collect and track data on military children.
