Military Family Guide: What Are You Seeing This School Year in Special Education and Accommodations?
Back-to-school season is always a mix of excitement and nerves. New classrooms, routines, shiny notebooks, and freshly sharpened pencils set the tone for the next chapter. For military kids, it often means more than just the first day of school. Many are stepping into unfamiliar schools and communities after moving far from the friends and teachers who felt like home.
For families with children who need special education services or accommodations, that transition can feel especially heavy. Parents may be working to ensure an Individualized Education Program (IEP) moves with their child into a new classroom, or they may be advocating for a 504 plan that guarantees the right support in a new district. Each move brings fresh stacks of paperwork, new educators to meet, and the all-to-familiar task of retelling a child’s story from the beginning.
We want to hear from you. What are you seeing this school year when it comes to special education and accommodations? Are schools stepping up to meet your child’s needs, or are you still working to have their plan recognized? Your perspective helps paint a clearer picture of what military families are experiencing right now, and it may be exactly what another parent needs to hear.
Tips Families Say Make a Difference
Military parents have shared strategies that help smooth the back-to-school transition. Here are some of the most common lessons.
Start Early: Families who reach out to schools as soon as orders arrive often find their child’s needs are recognized more quickly. Some even begin conversations before they move to their next duty station.
Keep Records Together: A binder or digital file with IEPs, evaluations, and medical documentation can save weeks of back-and-forth. One parent told us that having everything in one place made all the difference in getting teachers on board.
Lean On Your School liaison Officer. They are an invaluable bridge between military families and local schools. They help families navigate the local system and strengthen ties with educators.
Collaborate with Educators: Advocacy is most effective when it feels like teamwork. Families who approach schools with a spirit of partnership often find that cooperation strengthens.
Tap Into EFMP: Exceptional Family Member Program coordinators and Military OneSource consultants can help you navigate and connect with specialists.
This School Year Through Your Eyes
Every family’s journey looks different. Your child’s new school may have welcomed them with open arms and understanding. You may have discovered a strategy that saves time and energy each semester while championing your child’s needs. Or you may still be in the thick of advocating for accommodations and looking for encouragement from others who understand.
No matter where you are in the process, your story has value. By sharing your experience, you can offer comfort to another family walking a similar path and highlight why strong support systems for military kids are so important.
We invite you to add your voice. Share what this school year looks like for your family and help us shine a light on the challenges and successes military families are experiencing right now.
Looking Ahead
When schools and families work together, military children succeed. When military children succeed, families are stronger, and service members can serve with peace of mind. This back-to-school season, let’s continue building connections, sharing experiences, and advocating for the resources our kids deserve. Together, we can make sure every military child has the support they need.
Together, We’re Stronger®
By: Olivia Brinsfield, Content Manager
