“The 2021 defense bill (NDAA) was passed with provisions that account for 50% of Partners in PROMISE’s stated mission goals.”
Jennifer Barnhill, COO, Partners in PROMISE
Partners in PROMISE is happy to share the results of our latest collaboration with our Resource Partner, the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) to continue the work our organization began in 2020.
2021 Recommendations
In addition to the provisions in the 2021 NDAA, MCEC and Partners in PROMISE make the following recommendations for inclusion in future policy, practice and legislation:
- Ensure remote school enrollment for all military families.
- Allow families to maintain IEPs at a new duty station after a PCS for up to six months.
- Require parental consent to all IEP changes before changes can be implemented.
- Instruct State Education Agencies and the U.S. Department of Education to gather and provide data on special education disputes involving military children, utilizing the existing Military Student Identifier.
These items are directly pulled from our PROMISE Act document, highlighted in our 2020 White Paper.
MCEC’s mission is to support all military-connected children by educating, advocating, and collaborating to resolve education challenges associated with the military lifestyle. Their recognition of the struggles of military children in special education is another encouraging step in the right direction for our families!
Our partnership with MCEC in 2021 is growing as Partners in PROMISE will be featured in two special episodes of MCEC’s podcast, For the Sake of the Child. One episode will cover what we has been accomplished already for our military special education families and what Partners in PROMISE hopes to achieve in 2021!
Hello, my name is Major Martínez we are a dual military couple. We work at Ft Bragg. We PCS from Hawaii and we just had to hired a lawyer because the Cumberland County don’t want to provide our son FAPE, his diagnosed is autism and ADHD.
It’s very difficult to have to through this every time we move. No one understands.
Hello Major Martinez we are so sorry to hear that you are having to fight for your child’s right to FAPE. Our organization has advocated for special education advocates and attorneys for all service branches. Have you reached out to your local EFMP office? Feel free to contact us directly with any additional questions or concerns at info@thepromiseact.org.
https://www.army.mil/article/238337/special_education_legal_support_now_available_to_efmp_families