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FORT HOOD, Texas — Military families have many educational resources for their school-aged children. Still, one resource signed into law by all states — one of less than 10 compacts — is the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission.
The compact assists with the challenges faced by military children and their frequent relocations, and it is essential to increase awareness about this resource, said Kristine Caparco, a school liaison officer for Child and Youth Services at the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation.
“Our job is to increase awareness about the compact and ensure that it is being implemented within the districts that our military-connected students are in,” she said. “So, we provide awareness to the district, and we also provide awareness to the families, and we support in that aspect.”
According to the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission website, the MIC3 was founded in 2008 and is comprised of commission members from the 50 states, the District of Columbia and six military representatives. The compact covers children of active-duty members in the armed forces, National Guard and Reserve on active-duty orders, as well as veterans who are medically discharged or retired for one year.
“The compact has different sections that address a couple of different areas, to include registration requirements, immunization records, IEP (individual education program) and 504 accommodations, graduation requirements — things like that,” Caparco said.
She continued saying the compact “was designed to help combat the challenges that military-connected students face as they are transitioning due to permanent change of duty stations from their service member.” She noted each state had different mandates for education. For example, a student moving from New York to Texas has to adjust to different requirements, and the compact is designed to combat those differences for graduation, grade advancement and special education.
“Before the compact, our military-connected students were at the biggest risk for having to repeat core classes, repeat electives just to get graduation requirements met, going to summer classes, because they fell behind, just depending on what state they were in,” said Melanie Mahoney, another school liaison officer, CYS. “So, it really protects and keeps our military youth at the forefront to make sure that they have that protection, that the states come together, to make sure that we are aligned to support our military-connected youth.”
Mahoney shared as a military family for the past 16 years, she has heard about the difficulties in the past with Soldiers PCSing.
“Soldiers were PCSing but leaving their families behind where they were, just so they wouldn’t have to be stagnant or repeat things,” Mahoney said. “So not only were they experiencing the transition, it was unneeded separation, just so they wouldn’t disrupt their military student’s life.”
The compact helps ensure families avoid delays in starting education again between moves.
“So if a family isn’t aware that the military interstate compact is in place, and they come from Alaska to Texas and say an immunization requirement was not needed in Alaska, but it’s needed here in Texas, they would say, ‘Oh, I can’t register my child till they get that shot or immunization,’” Caparco said. “That’s no longer a delay in the child starting their education. They now have 30 additional days to get that needed immunization, so there’s no delay in starting education.”
The team has seen surrounding districts partnered with the installation show great care in supporting military children, Caparco conveyed.
“So, I’ve been in the position for a little over two and a half years now, and it’s the schools in our 10 partnering districts — as soon as we tell them what it is they’re like, ‘That makes sense,’” she said. “‘We want to support our military-connected youth. Let’s make sure our counselors are tracking so it’s very well received.’ … And then some districts have things in place already. They’re doing it without even being aware that it’s part of the compact so that’s nice. They were already finding ways to try to be military friendly.”
Caparco recalls one of the ways she has seen Killeen Independent School District support military families is with their athletic program. The compact requires that if a military student comes after tryouts for a sport, the school will still give them a chance to try out. KISD — since it serves the majority of the military students in the Fort Hood area — always hold spots for military-connected families to come in, because they know it’s going to happen midyear.
Caparco and Mahoney agree all they need from parents is to be aware of the program and come to them when they need help.
“It’s just having the knowledge that when you’re moving from state to state, district to district, even so the compact is there to support you, and it’s law, so the districts have to comply with it,” Caparco said.
“Have it in your toolbox as a military family as your children grow, because you’re not going to see it too much until where it really comes into play for those upper grades, your middle schoolers and high schoolers, to protect,” Mahoney said.
Caparco and Mahoney urge families to reach out to them if they find themselves having difficulty with a district during transfers. Visit the school liaison officers at the CYS office in the Shoemaker Center on the first floor, room 101, or call them at 254-288-7946 for assistance.
| Date Taken: | 08.07.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 08.15.2025 12:27 |
| Story ID: | 545510 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 15 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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