b'In an effort to providein services, bumpy schoolimmunization requirements military children withtransitions, and fears aboutto IEPs and 504 plans to more consistent educa- student preparedness forgraduation waivers. tional experiences thatlife after high school. Moreover, although 97% accommodate their uniqueThe report stated thatof professionals believed vulnerabilities, nonprofit25% of military kids report- that military children en-institutions such as Militaryed moving two or morecountered more stress than thrive. Indeed, anyChild Education Coalitiontimes during high school,their civilian peers, only 38% inferences drawn must be(MCEC) and the Militarybut the real eye-openerreported feeling confident taken with a grain of salt Interstate Childrenswas how students re- managing behavioral and Compact Commissionsponded to questions like,mental health issues related WHAT MILITARY FAMILIES(MIC3) were formed inI wish my school/teachersto transition, mobility, de-SAY 1998 and 2008, respective- understood and I wishployment and return from In a genuine effort toly. MCEC and MIC3 workmy peers understooddeployment.provide useful information,with schools, professionalsMilitary children wantedThe report contained Blue Star Families (BSF)and parents to alleviateeducators and peers to bea Wish List of resources questioned parents aboutsome of the negativemore cognizant of militaryparents believed would their older childrens happi- impact of frequent schoollifestyle challenges suchsupport their childrens ness in their annual Militarychanges, deploymentsas transitioning schools,education, including Lifestyle Surveys. The 2021and family separations onadjusting to curriculumstandardized curriculum, Survey report had goodmilitary children.differences, experiencinga buddy system for the news: 59 percent of parentscritical first days of a new rated their adolescents asschool, military liaisons in having either good orschools, help navigating excellent mental-wellthe college process, and being, averaging nearly 4.0school choice for all mil-on a scale of 1.0 (Poor) toitary-connected students 5.0 (Excellent).(e.g., public, private, charter, But wait just a minute.home, etc.).Not so fast.Do the differences in While BSF was talking tothese surveys indicate that the parents, the Nationalthe military, the schools and Military Family Associationthe public bought into the (NMFA) went straight tomantra, Military children the horses mouth andare resilient! and failed questioned the teensto see that military teens themselves, with alarmingmight be suffering? results. In NMFAs 2021 and 2022 Military TeenNO EASY ANSWERSExperience Surveys, overRegardless of recent 90 percent of adolescentssurvey evidence indicating scored as having at riskthat schools need to mental well-being in lowIn 2020, the Militarysocial disruptions, copingaddress the unique needs to moderate ranges onChild Education Coalitionswith deployments, beingof military children, the the Warwick-EdinburgMilitary Kids Now Surveystereotyped, and findingfact remains that military Mental Well-Being Scaleidentified the greatestacceptance. children move three times (WEMWBS). Twenty-eightchallenges to militaryMilitary teens also ex- more than their civilian percent of respondentschildrens education.pressed that, although theypeers. The typical military reported having low mentalThe survey polled overdeserve the same educa- child will change school well-being and behavior5,100 military-connectedtional opportunities as civil- six to nine times before that was indicative ofstudents (age 13 and over),ian students, they were notgraduating high school. No depression. They gener- parents with school-ageoffered a level academicmatter how well the school ally had difficulty thinkingchildren, and educators.playing field. They reportedaccommodates military clearly and making up theirAccording to the Summaryfrustration with changingchildren, with each move, mind. They also rarely feltReport, the responsesgraduation requirements,they will have to sever rela-optimistic, did not oftenwere both heartening andgaps in learning, disparitiestionships with peers, muster feel relaxed, and felt dis- heartbreaking, reflectingin school resources, andthe courage to make new connected from othersthe strength of their com- constant reassessments.friends, try to fit in with new Worse yet, too many of themitments to their country,Military parents reportedgroups, prove themselves teens reported thoughts oftheir families, and theirthe need for support withon new teams, find their harming themselves andeducation while also high- everything from placementways in new schools. This others.lighting continuing gapsin gifted programs to stateadded stress will always put 37 THE ORME BULLETIN'