A new report by the think tank Rand finds the children of military parents have difficulties with their school work when mom and dad are deployed. While this report might seem like a no-brainer, there are some interesting aspects Education Week brings to light in its article today. The problem is especially significant in elementary school-age children. And every month a parent is gone on deployment, the more severe the academic problems military kids face. Ed Week reports:
The report found, not surprisingly, that schools not on military bases don't provide adequate support to kids dealing with an absent parent and additional family responsibilities. However, schools on military bases make it a priority to make available counselors and other programs to keep students spirits (and test scores) up. I remember visiting Santa Margarita elementary school on Camp Pendleton in 2002 before the Iraq war, and the school's principal and teachers were working as a well-oiled machine to meet the emotional needs of students whose parents were about to be deployed.
Education Week reports that San Diego is on the ball when it comes to nipping this problem in the bud for schools near bases, but not on them:
If you're a military spouse, what do you do to help your child make the transition when mom or dad is deployed?
