SMITH 'INTERSTATE COMPACT ON EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR MILITARY CHILDREN' ADVANCES

SMITH 'INTERSTATE COMPACT ON EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITY FOR MILITARY CHILDREN' ADVANCES
NJ Would Be 12th Member State To Adopt Compact

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith is sponsoring to help children of military families who frequently move was released today by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

The bill (A-2640) would permit New Jersey to enter into the "Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children," which aims to eradicate disadvantages often encountered by military children because of frequent interstate moves and deployments

"The armed forces have made great strides in ensuring smooth transitions for our military personnel but there is work yet to be done, especially when it comes to the children of our military families," said Smith (D-Hudson). "We must do everything we can at the state and local levels to ensure that these children are neither penalized nor delayed in achieving their educational goals."

The interstate compact would facilitate the timely enrollment of children of military families in a new school system and development of a placement process that does not disadvantage the child and the on-time high school graduation of these children, among other matters.

"The average student from a military family faces transition challenges more than twice during high school, and most military children will have six to nine different school systems in their lives before they graduate from high school," said Smith. "Being constantly on the move can be stressful enough, but having to be the new kid in class over and over again can compound the pressure placed on a student."

Upon becoming a member of the interstate compact, each state would create a State Council, or use an existing body or board, to coordinate the state's participation. The State Council or board is also required to have a military family education liaison to assist military families and the state in implementing the interstate compact.

The compact would cover children of: active duty members of the uniformed services, including members of the National Guard and Reserve on active duty status; members or veterans of the uniformed services who are severely injured and medically discharged or retired for one year after medical discharge or retirement and members of the uniformed services who die on active duty or as a result of injuries sustained on active duty for a period of one year after death.

The bill was released unanimously and now heads to the Assembly Speaker, who decides if and when to post it for a floor vote.

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