ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — As a new school year approaches, military families arriving at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) face a familiar set of challenges: unpacking boxes, learning a new community, and preparing their children to navigate unfamiliar school hallways.
Frequent relocations, adapting to new curricula, and the emotional toll of deployed parents can make the back-to-school season uniquely stressful for military-connected students. This year, however, Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) and APG leadership are bringing a renewed, unified focus to ensure these transitions are smoother than ever.
In a joint commitment to student resilience, new HCPS Superintendent Dr. Dyann R. Mack and APG School Liaison Officer Brittany Johnson are emphasizing a "whole child" approach to education, underpinned by expanded support programs, community partnerships, and Harford County’s first Purple Star School designation.
For military children, the hurdles of transitioning to a new district go far beyond transferring credits. According to Dr. Mack, the most significant obstacle is often a failure to recognize how closely intertwined academic success is with a student's emotional well-being.
"The biggest hurdle is not recognizing the whole child," Mack said. "A student who is navigating a new school, new curriculum, new relationships, or the absence of a deployed parent may experience challenges that show up academically, but the root of the challenge may be social, emotional, or related to a sense of belonging."
Mack emphasized that HCPS is moving beyond merely looking at a transferring student's academic record.
"When students feel known, supported, safe, and connected, they are better positioned to engage and succeed academically," Mack added. "For military-connected students, recognizing and supporting the whole child requires an individualized approach that is essential to helping them feel that they belong and are ready to learn."
The effort to support military families begins long before a student steps foot in an HCPS classroom. Brittany Johnson, the APG School Liaison Officer (SLO), serves as the critical link between families, the installation, and local schools.
"The School Liaison Officer is the connection piece between military families, schools, and APG," Johnson explained. "My role is to help families navigate those challenges by connecting them with the proper school personnel and resources. I want to ensure parents and students have a smooth transition with little to no surprises."
Johnson strongly advises families to reach out to her office the moment they receive their Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders, rather than waiting until they arrive in Maryland. Getting a head start allows the SLO to equip families with essential resources and build confidence ahead of the move.
One of the most impactful resources available to incoming students is the APG Youth Sponsorship Program, which pairs new arrivals with a youth ambassador.
"With the Youth Sponsorship Program, students can walk into a new school with friendships already established," Johnson said. Parents can request a youth ambassador upon receiving orders, allowing incoming students to connect with peers who introduce them to the school community before their first day.
A major point of pride for both HCPS and APG this year is Roye-Williams Elementary School, which recently achieved the milestone of becoming Harford County’s first Purple Star School.
The Purple Star designation recognizes schools that demonstrate a major commitment to students and families connected to our nation’s military. For students walking through the doors of Roye-Williams, the designation translates into tangible, day-to-day support.
"A Purple Star School designation means that when a military-connected student and family walk through our doors, they are entering a school that has made an intentional commitment to supporting the whole child," said Mack.
Achieving this status was a three-year collaborative effort. Roye-Williams implemented a sweeping array of initiatives, including:
Johnson noted that the significance of this designation cannot be overstated for a child's mental well-being. "This designation is significant because it signals to military students that they have a community, it provides them with a sense of belonging," she said.
Because military moves can happen mid-semester, maintaining academic consistency is a top priority. Both Mack and Johnson highlighted the importance of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (MIC3), a legislative agreement that creates uniform standards across states for enrollment, placement, and graduation requirements.
"The MIC3 created a foundation for all states to have uniformity across the board," said Johnson, who attended 13 different schools during her own childhood as a military dependent. "Without the MIC3, every move could possibly mean starting over or learning new rules."
When incoming students arrive with curricula that doesn't perfectly align with Harford County's, Mack assures parents that immediate safety nets are deployed. Even while waiting on official documentation from prior schools, HCPS utilizes placement assessments to determine a child's academic level and immediately initiates necessary remediation or acceleration.
The district is also committed to flexibility regarding attendance policies to accommodate deployments and related emotional or physical health absences and has established strong frameworks for transferring 504 plans and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
As the new school year kicks off, HCPS and APG are committed to maintaining open lines of communication. Dr. Mack plans to continue working closely with APG leadership and the Garrison command, while Johnson will maintain her day-to-day collaboration with school principals.
For parents feeling the anxiety of a new transition, both leaders offer foundational advice. Mack encourages parents to lean on their local school administrators, calling them the "most important resource" for connecting families to appropriate academic and emotional support.
Johnson, drawing on her professional expertise and personal experience, reminds parents of the simple power of being present.
"As a former military child, I always advise parents to be supportive and a listening ear for their student," Johnson said. "Transitions are hard, especially for a child, which is why I encourage parents to give their student the space to talk about their feelings, acknowledge that moving can be scary, and highlight all of the new possible adventures!"
For more information on school transition resources, families are encouraged to contact the https://aberdeen.armymwr.com/programs/school-support-services or visit the https://hcps.org/