“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.