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WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 25, 2008) - Deputy Defense Secretary
Gordon England and Deputy Education Secretary Raymond Simon signed
a memorandum of understanding between their agencies at the
Pentagon today that addresses the quality of education and the
unique challenges faced by children of military families.
Hundreds of thousands of students in military families will be
affected by moves precipitated by recent Base Realignment and
Closure Act decisions and the relocation of military units from
overseas bases to stateside installations as part of global defense
posture realignment moves, England said.
Children of U.S. military members who have sacrificed so much
for the nation "deserve to have to a good education," England said
during his remarks before the signing ceremony.
"And so, we have an obligation, both as a department and as a
nation, to make sure not just the children in our military, but all
of the children in the United States of America get absolutely the
finest education that they can," the deputy defense secretary
said.
The failure to provide a good education for America's children
could result in the forfeiture of the United States' premier
position in the world, England pointed out, as well as the loss of
freedom for its citizens.
"So, I'm an extraordinary strong proponent of anything we do to
improve the education of our children, especially the children of
our military," England said.
The memo of understanding generally defines how the Defense and
Education departments will work together with local educational
organizations to strengthen and expand school-based efforts to ease
student transitions and help military students develop academic
skills and coping strategies during parents' military
deployments.
Simon hailed the agreement, noting that its implementation will
"honor the sacrifice that these families make every day."
The agreement supports defense and education department efforts
to:
-- Promote and enhance policies that will improve military
children's education and overall well-being;
-- Advance the quality of educational opportunities for all
military children;
-- Provide research-based academic, social-emotional and
behavioral supports to facilitate seamless transitions for military
children;
-- Provide leadership and advocacy programs to help military
students cope with issues surrounding deployments;
-- Support foreign language education, including programs for
strategic languages;
-- Explore legislative options to address transition issues for
military students;
-- Extend opportunities for student learning through support of
online, virtual and other research-based teaching models;
-- Provide research-based teacher and administrator professional
development programs;
-- Forge effective partnerships with local schools and
districts;
-- Coordinate Defense Department and Education Department impact
aid programs;
-- Communicate with military families and organizations to show
appreciation for their contributions; and
-- Increase awareness of resources and tools available from the
Education and Defense departments.
Congress has provided financial assistance to local school
districts through the impact aid program since 1950. Current
legislation provides financial assistance to school districts with
concentrations of children residing on military bases who have
parents in the military. Military families that reside in
government-provided quarters do not pay local property taxes, a
portion of which are used to manage and operate public schools.
More than 1.1 million students who belong to active duty and
reserve-component military families are expected to benefit from
activities outlined in the agreement.
Air Force Tech. Sgt. Michael J. Naquin, a security forces
noncommissioned officer posted at Bolling Air Force Base here, and
his 6-year-old son, Aaron, were among several military families
personally greeted by England and Simon at signing ceremony.
"Progress is being made, and it is nice that our two communities
can come together as one," Naquin said of the bi-departmental
education agreement.
"It is one less worry, not having to worry about the education
my children are getting," Naquin pointed out, noting education is a
"very, very important" component of quality of life.
A special panel will now begin work to implement the
initiatives, David S.C. Chu, undersecretary of defense for
personnel and readiness, said.
"We all have just one goal in mind, and that is to provide a
quality education for the children of all military families," Chu
said.
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