Creating Welcoming School Communities
“Every student deserves to know that they belong, that their voice matters, and that their unique experiences enrich our schools. The best educators create spaces where students feel safe to learn, grow, and become their best selves.”
-Rita Pierson, Educator
Supporting military-connected students requires understanding and responding to their unique challenges. As highly mobile military families relocate around the world, their life experiences can change dramatically by world region. Schools and local community organizations must provide timely resources to incoming military-connected students and families to ensure academic success and smooth transfers to new homes. Creating lasting positive change in education requires collaboration across multiple fields including education, medicine, technology, and government, bringing together different perspectives and innovative solutions to support military families.
Military Student Characteristics
Military-connected students bring a wide range of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives to our school communities. These may include variety in:
- Cultural experiences from postings around the world
- Family structures and living arrangements
- Learning styles and educational backgrounds
- Language skills and communication needs
- Physical and academic support requirements
- Socioeconomic circumstances
- Religious and ethical values
Understanding these varied experiences helps educators provide appropriate support and foster a safe learning environment for all students.
Educational Access and Support
Military students require consistent access to educational opportunities despite frequent moves and transitions. Each student’s circumstances may require different types of support to maintain academic progress. For example:
- Students with physical or learning disabilities may need specialized support through IEPs or 504 Plans
- Students transferring between different state systems may need help aligning credits
- Students experiencing deployment-related challenges may need additional academic support
- Students moving internationally may need language support
- Students changing schools mid-year may need help catching up in specific subjects
Military families bring rich experiences from postings around the world. Their varied backgrounds and circumstances require schools to provide flexible, individualized support to ensure every student can succeed academically.
Building Welcoming School Communities
Creating a sense of belonging is critical for military students’ academic success and overall well-being (Cantor, 2021; Cozza, 2014; MCEC, 2020). Research shows that students perform better academically when they feel connected to their school community. This is especially important for military-connected students who frequently change schools.
Successful school communities:
- Welcome new students actively
- Enable full participation in school activities
- Provide clear access to resources and support
- Foster peer connections and friendships
- Maintain open communication with families
- allow students to maintain academic momentum amid frequent school changes
- Encourage participation in extracurricular activities
When students feel welcomed and supported, they are better positioned to maintain academic progress despite moves and changes.
DEIA Conversation Starters with Children and Youth:
Do you find it challenging to talk about diversity and inclusion? There is no perfect way for parents, teachers, or youth serving professionals to have these types of conversations with military kids. You may experience difficult conversations or even make a few mistakes during these conversations; however, the goal is to move forward together. Remember, it is okay to be vulnerable. Here are a few recommendations (NEA Education Justice, 2017; PBS; Sesame Street):
- Keep it simple by explaining diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Follow their lead and answer their questions age-appropriately
- Meet them at their level.
- Ask them questions to facilitate their thinking around diversity.
- Keep an open mind and reserve judgment.
- Let them express themselves, freely.
- Watch educational videos and follow up with a group discussion.
- Read books or stories with diverse characters.
- Watch a movie with equal representation of genders, races, and sexual orientations.
Create Positive Change in Your Community
Virginia 4-H’er Eli shares how the 4-H Tech Changemakers program is changing his life and allowing him to help his…What To Do When Experiencing Racism as a Military Member
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Taking the time to teach your kids about diversity and inclusion is essential.A Discussion Guide
PBS KIDS spoke with real families and had conversations about racial identity, anti-Black racism, and how it is incumbent on…5 Big Ideas
An article about five themes that help children learn about themselves, others, and the world.Standing Against Racism with Affirmations and Self-Care
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In this video, Elmo and his new friends Wes and Elijah talk about why people have different skin (and fur!)…Choices Against Racism for Military Families
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Taking the time to teach your kids about diversity and inclusion is essential.Turnaround for Children
The SoLD Alliance is a field-building resource hub for researchers, practitioners and policymakers.Equitable Learning Library
A collection of resources by Building Equitable Learning EnvironmentsLeadership for Educational Equity
Building a diverse, enduring movement of leaders engaging civically within their communities to end the injustice of inequity.References:
Alvarez, B. (2019, January 22). Why social justice in school matters. NEA. https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/new-from-nea/why-social justice-school-matters
Cantor, P., Lerner, R. M., Pittman, K. J., Chase, P. A., & Gomperts, N. (2021). Whole-child development, learning, and thriving: A dynamic systems approach. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108954600
Cooperative Extension. (n.d.) Diversity, equity, and inclusion a professional development offering. eXtension Foundation Impact Collaborative. https://dei.extension.org/
Cozza, S. J. (2014). Supporting America’s military children and families. Applied Developmental Science, 18(1), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888691.2014.866399
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (2022). What is diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)? https://dei.extension.org/
Department of Defense Education Activity (2022, January 5). Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. https://www.dodea.edu/offices/dei/index.cfm
EDJustice (2017). Creating the space to talk about race in your school. National Education Association. https://neaedjustice.org/social-justice issues/racial-justice/talking-about-race/
Exec. Order No. 13985, 86 Fed. Reg. 7009 (Jan 20, 2021). Executive Order 13985 Exec. Order No. 14035, 86 Fed. Reg. 34593 (Jun 25, 2021). https://www.federalregister.gov/executive-order/13985
Federal Reserve. (n.d.) Diversity, equity, and inclusion. Office of the Inspector General. https://oig.federalreserve.gov/diversity-equity-inclusion.htm
Hammond, Z. (2014). Culturally responsive teaching and the brain: Promoting authentic engagement and rigor among culturally and linguistically diverse students. Corwin Press.
Holland, C., Sung, R., & Liu, J. (2022). Integrating Antiracism, Social Justice, and Equity Themes in a Biochemistry Class. Journal of Chemical Education, 99(1), 202-210. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c00382
Milken Institute of Public Health (2020, November 5). Equity vs. equality: what’s the difference? The George Washington University. https://onlinepublichealth.gwu.edu/resources/equity-vs-equality/
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2019, July 19). Strengthening the military family readiness system for a changing American Society. The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25380
PBS Kids: For Parents. (n.d.) Talking to Young Children About Race and Racism. PBS. https://www.pbs.org/parents/talking-about-racism
Race Forward. (n.d.) What is racial equity? https://www.raceforward.org/about/what-is-racial-equity-key-concepts
Race Matters Institute. (2014, April 2). Racial equality or racial equity? The difference it makes. JustPartners, Inc. https://viablefuturescenter.org/racemattersinstitute/2014/04/02/racial-equality-or-racial-equity-the-difference-it-makes/
Sensoy, Ö., & DiAngelo, R. (2009). Developing social justice literacy an open letter to our faculty colleagues. Phi Delta Kappan, 90(5), 345 352. https://doi.org/10.1177/003172170909000508
The School of Education at Channel Islands. (n.d.) What is a “social justice framework”? https://education.csuci.edu/about/justice-c conference/faq.htm
Tong, P. K., Payne, L. A., Bond, C. A., Meadows, S. O., Lewis, J. L., Friedman, E. M., & Maksabedian Hernandez, E. J. (2018, October 18). Frequent moves affect military family stability. RAND Corporation. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2304.html
U.S. Department of Education. (n.d.) Department of Education Equity Action Plan. Department of Education Equity Action Plan. https://www.ed.gov/equity
Disclosure Statement: These tools are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
Have a Question? Ask an MSC!
If you have a question about academic transition, education options, or how to best meet the needs of your military-connected child, connect with a Military Student Consultant.
Our MSCs truly understand the challenges related to military life and they stand ready to serve.