School Liaison Program (SLP)

Start Here If You Are New to SLP

SCHOOL LIAISON PROGRAM (SLP) at Marine Corps installations focuses on making TRANSITIONS easier for military school age children. SLP COORDINATES COMMUNITY RESOURCES to reduce the impact of the mobile military lifestyle on military school-aged children and families. SLP IMPLEMENTS PREDICTABLE SUPPORT SERVICES that assist children and youth with relocations, life transitions, and achieving academic success. SLP PROVIDES RESOURCES to parents, students, schools, commanders, and communities. SLP COORDINATES with EFMP for special education needs. SLP supports transitions BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER PCS. The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children is a critical tool SLP leverages. Per DoDI 1342.20DoDI 1342.20 and Marine Corps Community Services policy.

This page walks you through SLP from your seat as a Marine. By the end you will know.

• The SLP mission and scope
• The four phases of school transition (before, during, after PCS, and integration)
• The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children
• Coordination with local school districts
• Coordination with EFMP for special education
• Special school situations (DoDEA, charter, private, homeschool)
• Resources for parents, students, and commanders
• How to find your installation School Liaison
• Common transition challenges

Every fact on this page comes from DoDI 1342.20DoDI 1342.20, the Interstate Compact, DoDEA policy, and Marine Corps Community Services published guidance.

What SLP Is

SLP is the installation-level resource for navigating school transitions for military families. The program exists to make the inherently disruptive nature of frequent moves less damaging to children's education.

SLP Mission

To identify and coordinate community resources to.

• Reduce the impact of the mobile military lifestyle on military school-aged children and families.
• Implement predictable support services that assist children and youth with relocations, life transitions, and achieving academic success.
• Provide a wide range of resources that facilitate school transitions to parents, students, schools, commanders, and communities.

Why SLP Matters

• Average military child experiences 6-9 school transitions K-12.
• Each transition risks academic disruption, social isolation, and emotional stress.
• Special education students face additional risks during transition.
• High school students face graduation requirement variations across states.

The Four Phases of School Transition

Phase 1. Before PCS (At Losing Installation)

The losing installation School Liaison helps the family prepare for transition.

• School records preparation.
• IEP or 504 Plan documentation gathering.
• Transcript requests.
• Pre-departure school meetings.
• Connection with gaining installation School Liaison.

Phase 2. During PCS (Travel and Transition)

The transition window itself.

• Records hand-off arrangements.
• Avoiding disruption of standardized testing or grade calculations.
• Planning enrollment dates at the new school.

Phase 3. After PCS (Arrival at Gaining Installation)

The gaining installation School Liaison helps the family enroll and integrate.

• School district selection (if multiple options).
• Enrollment paperwork and timeline.
• IEP transfer and continuation of services.
• Connection with school administrators and counselors.
• Verification of credit transfer for high school students.

Phase 4. Integration (First Months at New School)

Ongoing support during the integration period.

• Monitoring academic progress.
• Connecting with extracurricular activities.
• Addressing social adjustment.
• Resolving credit or placement disputes.

The Interstate Compact

The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children is a tool SLP uses extensively. The Compact is signed by all 50 states and DC.

What the Compact Provides

• Streamlined enrollment when records are still in transit.
• Course placement based on prior school records.
• Special education service continuation.
• Graduation accommodation for high school seniors.
• Extracurricular eligibility (sports, clubs).

Streamlined Enrollment

Schools must allow conditional enrollment with hand-carried records pending official records arrival. Reduces enrollment delays.

Course Placement

Schools must accept the course placement from the prior school for purposes of grade level continuation. Reduces unnecessary repetition.

Special Education Continuation

Schools must continue providing comparable services to those in the prior school's IEP until a new IEP can be developed.

Graduation Accommodation

For high school seniors, schools must accommodate graduation requirements that may differ from the prior state.

Extracurricular Eligibility

Children are immediately eligible for extracurricular activities (no transfer rule waiting periods that bar military children from sports teams, etc.).

Coordination With Local School Districts

Public School Districts

Most military families use local public school districts. SLP.

• Maintains relationships with district administrators and school principals.
• Connects families with school points of contact.
• Advocates when issues arise.
• Provides translation between school and family expectations.

Charter and Magnet Schools

Some installations have access to charter or magnet schools. SLP.

• Provides information on options.
• Assists with application processes.
• Identifies admission lotteries and timelines.

Private Schools

For families choosing private schools, SLP can.

• Provide information on options.
• Some installations have private school subsidy programs in limited circumstances.
• Coordinate with local private school admissions.

Homeschool

For families homeschooling, SLP can.

• Provide state-specific homeschool legal requirements.
• Connect with military homeschool networks.
• Assist with curriculum and assessment resources.

Coordination With EFMP for Special Education

Why Coordination Matters

Special education students face the highest transition risks. Coordination between SLP and EFMP is critical.

How Coordination Works

• EFMP enrollment captures special education needs (DD Form 2792-1DD Form 2792-1).
• SLP coordinates IEP transfer and continuation of services.
• SLP advocates for service continuation during transition gaps.
• SLP provides resources for navigating new district's special education process.

Family Member Travel Screening Connection

EFMP families with school-age children may have FMTS that confirms appropriate school services available at the gaining installation. SLP supports this verification.

See Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP).

Special School Situations

DoDEA Schools (Department of Defense Education Activity)

DoDEA operates schools at some installations (primarily overseas, some CONUS). SLP coordinates with DoDEA for.

• Enrollment.
• Records transfer.
• Special education services.
• High school graduation.

Boarding Schools

For some unique situations (deployment of single parent, special circumstances), boarding school may be considered. SLP can provide information.

Virtual School

Many states offer virtual school options. SLP can connect families with options.

Tutoring Resources

• Installation MCCS may offer tutoring.
• Tutor.com (free for military children) provides online tutoring.
• Local community tutoring resources.

Resources for Different Audiences

For Parents

• School transition timelines.
• Enrollment checklists.
• Special education advocacy.
• Academic resource referrals.
• Parent support groups.

For Students

• Connection with peer support groups.
• Tutoring referrals.
• Extracurricular activity guidance.
• High school graduation planning.

For Schools

• Training on military culture and student needs.
• Resources for supporting military students.
• Connection with installation MCCS.
• Crisis support resources.

For Commanders

• Briefings on school issues affecting unit families.
• Support for unit-wide family readiness.
• Coordination during deployment for families with school-age children.

For Communities

• Community awareness of military family needs.
• School board representation considerations.
• Local nonprofit and civic organization coordination.

How to Find Your Installation School Liaison

MCCS Website

Visit your installation MCCS website. School Liaison Program contact information is listed under Family services.

MCCS Office

Visit the installation MCCS office in person. Family services staff can connect you.

Family Readiness Officer

Your unit FRO can connect you with the installation School Liaison.

DoD Central Resource

The MilitaryOneSource.mil website has a directory of School Liaisons for all installations.

Common Transition Challenges

Mid-Year Moves

PCS during the school year is the most disruptive. SLP cannot prevent the move but can minimize disruption.

Mitigation. Coordinate enrollment and records transfer well in advance. Use the Compact for streamlined enrollment.

High School Senior Year

Senior year moves can affect graduation requirements, college applications, and senior activities.

Mitigation. The Compact provides graduation accommodation. SLP advocates with the new school. Sometimes families arrange for the senior to remain at the prior school (with relatives or boarding) to complete the year.

Special Education Service Gaps

Even with the Compact, services may be paused during transfer.

Mitigation. SLP and EFMP coordinate to push for immediate service continuation.

Credit Transfer Disputes

The new school may not accept all credits from the prior school.

Mitigation. SLP advocates for the Compact provisions. Documentation from the prior school is critical.

Social Integration

Children may struggle to make new friends.

Mitigation. SLP connects families with peer support groups, extracurricular activities, and school counselors.

Common Failure Points

Late Engagement With SLP

Marines wait until problems arise.

Mitigation. Engage the losing installation SLP as soon as PCS orders are received. Engage the gaining installation SLP before arrival.

Records Not Hand-Carried

Family relies on schools to mail records and arrive after enrollment date.

Mitigation. Hand-carry copies of report cards, IEP, transcripts, and immunization records.

Inattention to Compact Rights

Family does not invoke Compact provisions and accepts disadvantageous treatment.

Mitigation. SLP educates families on Compact rights. Family advocates with school using SLP support.

Failure to Coordinate EFMP and SLP

Special education families work the EFMP track and the SLP track separately, missing coordination opportunities.

Mitigation. Engage both EFMP Coordinator and School Liaison together for transition planning.

Cross References

• For special education coordination, see Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)
• For childcare during school breaks, see Child and Youth Programs (CYP)
• For unit-level family readiness, see Family Readiness Services (UPFRP)
• For PCS coordination, see PCS Orders and Overview
• For overall MF framework, see Marine and Family Programs Overview and Authorities

Quick Reference

• Authority. DoDI 1342.20DoDI 1342.20.
• Mission. Reduce impact of mobile military lifestyle on military school-aged children.
• Tool. Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.
• Coordination. With EFMP, local schools, DoDEA, MCCS.
• Locations. Installation MCCS.
• Resources. MilitaryOneSource.mil for directory.

Records To Keep

• School Liaison contact information for losing and gaining installations
• School records (report cards, transcripts, IEP, 504 Plan)
• Immunization records
• Compact-specific documentation when invoked
• Tutoring and extracurricular activity records

If you have a question about school transitions or military children's education, your installation School Liaison at MCCS is your first contact. For special education coordination, also engage your installation EFMP Coordinator.