Back to School

Whether you are counting down the days until the school bus arrives or hanging on to those last few weeks of summer vacation, it’s officially back to school season. For military families, that can mean anything from packing lunches and finding classroom supplies amongst a sea of boxes and packing paper, planning for a PCS in the middle of the school year, finally feeling settled in your school district — or sometimes all of the above! And while we can’t help you find the last 36 pack of glue sticks or the perfect Fortnight lunchbox, MFAN has pulled together our best resources to help make your back-to-school a bit easier.

Keep your back to school cool

PCSing this summer? Check out our webinar with Military Child Education Coalition and Exceptional Families of the Military to help you successfully navigate the transition to a new school district. Pssst, there’s a lot of great information here for families that haven’t moved recently as well!

for MIl Kids

• Back to School Toolkit from MCEC: The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) offers a checklist for school moves, activity sheets, special education placement options, podcasts, webinars, and more.
• Back to School Brigade: Led by Operation Homefront, Back to School Brigade provides free school supplies (including backpacks) to eligible dependents of service members across the country. Visit Operation Homefront’s events page to find and register for an event near you!
• Tutor.com: The Department of Defense provides free tutoring services to military personnel and their dependents through an agreement with Tutor.com. Tutors are available in over 150 subject areas and are accessible through an internet connected device anywhere in the world.

for parents & Schools

Interested in learning more about the schools in your new community or how you can help your current district better support military-connected students?

• Better Business Bureau Back-to-School HQ: Whether you need help setting a school budget or planning a big purchase, BBB can help get your military kid ready for the school year.
• Purple Star Schools: The Purple Star School program is designed to help schools provide appropriate resources and support to children of active duty service members and members of the Reserve and National Guard.
• School Scope from MILLIE: For parents, schools are one of the first concerns when receiving PCS orders. MILLIE has created a School Scope toolkit that helps families consider what is most important to them when making decisions about their child’s education.
• School Liaisons: School liaisons are located at military installations around the globe to provide support to military families and ensure that military-connected children receive the best possible education support during their family’s military career. School liaisons are even able to provide important resources and valuable support to military home educators. To find the school liaison at your location, click here.
• MFLC: The Military and Family Life Counseling program provides free, confidential non-medical counseling to service members and their families. In addition to being available at your installation’s Military and Family Support Center, some schools on and off base have MFLCs onsite to support students. To learn more, contact your local Military and Family Support Center.
• Tips from Cohen Veterans Network: The team at Cohen Veterans Networks shares five tips for helping your child start the school year on the right foot. They include examples of how to implement each of the tips and provide a helpful reminder to take care of yourself during this busy season.
• Mindset and Routine: United Through Reading provides a shortlist of items to empower families to embrace the upcoming school year with enthusiasm and confidence.

Military life can have its ups and downs. At MFAN, we are committed to helping military families find solutions to their challenges and enjoy the many benefits that come with this unique lifestyle. Whether it’s your mil kid’s first day at a new school or their 1,000th, we wish your family a fun and exciting school year — full of learning and unforgettable memories!