Sent in by Veterans News and Information Services
By Staff Sgt. Alicia K. Borlik, USA
WASHINGTON -- Military families stationed where there are no
Defense Department schools now receive an allowance to send
their children to a private or boarding school of their choice.
Most of the military personnel affected serve at U.S. embassies,
said Jerald Bloom, chief of policy and legislation at the DoD
Education Activity, the school system's administrative
headquarters. The largest population is in Europe, followed by
South America, Australia and the Pacific.
The new allowance was included in the 1999 Defense Authorization
Act and mirrors the allowance offered State Department
employees. The Department of State Standardized Regulations,
Sections 031.1 and 277.2, outline how the educational allowance
will be given to military members. This information can be found
on the Web at:
Previously, the government only paid for military family members
to attend schools certified by DoDEA, which means they'd been
inspected and approved as offering education comparable to that
of DoD schools. The education activity must approve the
curriculum and the quality of the faculty, ensure instruction is
in English and resolve a number of other issues.
Military members paid out of pocket to send children to
noncertified schools.
Education activity officials said DoD military and civilian
personnel requested the change because they wanted choice and
more flexibility. Some, for instance, served in areas with no
certified local schools. The certification program will end once
the new program is in full effect, they said.
Educational allowances cover tuition costs and are paid directly
to schools, not to members. The allowance doesn't cover personal
expenses such as uniforms, laundry and meals, unless dormitory
enrollment is required and authorized. Also not covered are
duplicate registration and tuition fees and other fees deemed
excessive by the dependent schools system comptroller.
Parents with questions should contact the superintendent of the
area in which they are or will be stationed. Following are phone
numbers and addresses of those offices:
Europe Area Superintendent, Wiesbaden, Germany
Pacific Area Superintendent, Okinawa, Japan Panama/Cuba Area Superintendent, until May 31: After June 1:
American Forces Press Service
Grant of Education Allowances
CMR 443 Box 7000
APO AE 09096
Phone: 49-0611-0380-7615
Fax: 049-0611--0380-7576
Unit 35007
FPO AP 96373-5007
Phone: 011-81-611-745-2241
Fax: 4011-81-98-876-4363
District Superintendent, Panama
DoD Dependents School
Unit 0925
APO AA 34002
Phone: 011-507-285-4035
Fax: 011-507-285-6652
Panama/Cuba Area Superintendent
4040 N. Fairfax Dr.
Arlington, VA 22203-1635
Phone: 703-696-8986
Fax: 703-696-8920
