10 Tips to Support Your Child’s Learning: Military Parent Involvement in Education
- UOTR Editorial Team
- Aug 15, 2024
- 8 min read
By Jetta Allen and Kimberly Day
Updated August 2025
Why Military Parent Involvement in Education Matters
Military parent involvement in education isn’t just helpful, it’s essential. As military families navigate frequent moves, changing schools, and unique stressors, staying actively engaged in your child’s education creates stability and connection. Whether you’re volunteering at school, attending a School Advisory Committee meeting, or working with your Installation Advisory Committee, your presence makes a difference. Military parent involvement in education empowers families to advocate for resources, support academic success, and build a strong sense of community—no matter where you're stationed.
Getting involved in your child’s education doesn’t have to be overwhelming; small, consistent actions can make a big impact. Whether you're new to military life or a seasoned PCS pro, there are many meaningful ways to support your child’s learning journey. Here are 10 practical tips to help you stay engaged, build connections, and strengthen military parent involvement in education.
Get Involved Directly at School
Volunteer!
Get in the school to see and understand the general needs and the specific needs of your kid(s) and to help your school community. Volunteer with the homeschool groups and co-ops. Being hands-on in your child’s learning environment helps parents stay connected with the school and with other parents.
Get involved in the School Advisory Committee (SAC)
Join the quarterly meetings at your school. These meetings happen routinely and are open to the public. Attend to advocate for changes in policy and programs, address concerns, advise the principal and installation commander, and create opportunities for kids. Agenda items like school safety, seminar/advisory minutes, functional pick up and drop off areas, changing the culture of sexual harassment and assault in our schools, cameras, dual enrollment, and ACT/SAT prep programming are just a few topics addressed at the School Advisory Committees across the peninsula! These committees are open to the public and if you’re a homeschool family using Auxilary services, consider attending to support your family and other homeschoolers too!
Join the Parent-Teacher-Student Organization (PTSO)
Get to know other parents, teachers, and the principal. Help fundraise for the school and amazing activities for your kid(s). Events like reading under the stars, glow dances, popcorn Fridays, and even book drives are all done through the wonderful PTSOs in South Korea.
Join Installation and Community Advisory Groups
Joining installation and community advisory groups is a powerful way for military parents to have a voice in their child’s education and the larger school community. By participating, you contribute to real change and strengthen military parent involvement in education across your installation.
Get involved in your Installation Advisory Committee (IAC)
Join the quarterly meetings at your installation. These meetings happen routinely and are open to the public. The IAC is for the whole community. Homeschool families can attend and advocate for community resources to support the education of their learning. The IAC advises the installation commander on matters, including support. Agenda items like teen driver education, hiring, dual enrollment, student discipline, resources officers, cameras on the interior and exterior of our schools, and community access to DoDEA athletic facilities are topics that have been addressed at the Installation Advisory Committee across the peninsula.
Connect with your School Liaison Officer (SLO) and Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)
Understanding the resources your SLO and EFMP can offer supports not just your children but your entire family. If you are a homeschooled family, your SLO is your first resource! They can point you in the direction of the location of homeschool groups, co-ops, and the resources available to support learning on your installation.
Stay Informed and Build Strong Relationships
Familiarize yourself with parents' and students' rights
The FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) included the Servicemember Parents Bill of Rights. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 also cover parent and student rights. Knowledge is empowerment. For homeschool families, understanding your options through DoDEAs Auxiliary services can help your family. These services include access to academic resources, access to the school information center (i.e., library), after-hours use of school facilities, and participation in music, sports, and other extra-curricular activities and interscholastic activities.
Document communication with emails
Communicate with your students’ teachers regularly via email. Emails make great reminders of conversations, due dates, and resources shared. Emails can also be useful to help create group schedules. Discuss if a family group calendar can help everyone coordinate plans, including academic activities and events.
Build relationships and assume the best intentions
Building strong relationships can positively impact future educational outcomes. Relationships with your child’s educational team support your student as well.
Ask questions. Ask your friends. Ask your community. Ask your school leadership.
Agencies want to engage with parents! Be open to every conversation that could impact your student- the good and difficult discussions! Know that the Adolescent Support and Counseling Services and Military & Family Life Counselors can help your student, parents in the community, or even group sessions together.
Don't quit!
We cannot make up these years for our kids. Your consistent presence and support, whether through school events, advisory meetings, or at-home encouragement, help ensure military children thrive academically and emotionally. Staying committed is one of the most powerful forms of military parent involvement in education.
Helpful Resources for Military Families Supporting Education
Navigating military life and supporting your child’s education can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. A variety of organizations and programs exist to empower military families with information, tools, and connections. The following resources are designed to support military parent involvement in education, whether you’re navigating public school, DoDEA, or homeschooling.
Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission
Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3) is the governing body of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children or ICEOMC.
The Mission: ease the educational transitions of school-aged, military, and uniform-connected students attending public schools, including Department of Defense Education Activity schools worldwide, and also promulgate and enforce the compact rules.
National Military Family Association
The National Military Family Association (NMFA) is the leading 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to serving all military families. Since 1969, NMFA has worked with families to identify and solve the unique challenges of military life. Teens can look into joining BLOOM: Empowering the Military Teen.
The Mission: We work with families to identify and solve the unique challenges of military life to create a world in which military families are thriving.
Five and Thrive
Five & Thrive's Military Community Quality-of-Life Experience (or QX) is the positive outcome of a collaborative model made up of military leaders, community partners, and military-connected families who come together to find creative solutions to quality-of-life challenges.
The Mission: Tackle the top five quality-of-life (QoL) issues military families face: Childcare, Education, Healthcare, Housing, Spouse Employment
Military Homeschoolers Association
Military Homeschoolers Association (MHA) is a support organization serving as a social resource network for homeschooling military families. Our mission is to elevate the voice of under-resourced homeschooling military families.
The Mission: To advocate for homeschooling, particularly within the military community, by providing informative content, resources, and training to governmental and non-governmental agencies and to empower military homeschooling families worldwide with the resources and support they need to thrive in their educational journey.
Partners in Promise
Partner in Promise develops data-informed solutions that equip parents, inform leaders, and enable military students to thrive. They promote the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion by advocating for the futures of our military children with unique and diverse backgrounds and needs.
The Mission: Our mission is to Protect the Rights Of Military children in Special Education and disability communities to ensure they receive equal access to an education.
STOMP
Specialized Training of Military Parents offers virtual workshops and webinars throughout the United States and overseas for military families and military personnel of all branches of service. STOMP workshops and webinars are funded by the Army, Navy, and Air Force who determine location and topics per installation. The installations served during this multi-year contract are in partnership with parent center staff in the US and its territories.
The Mission: To provide information and resources so that military parents, individuals with disabilities, and the military can personally access services.
Military One Source
Browse Children, Youth & Teens-related resources for detailed including links and access information. There are many resources through Military OneSource and other Defense Department programs.
The Mission: Enhance readiness and enhance quality of life for the military community.
Staying Engaged: Your Role Matters Every Step of the Way
As military parents, we juggle a lot, deployments, PCS moves, new communities, but one of the most impactful things we can do is stay involved in our children’s education. Whether you're showing up at a school event, volunteering with a homeschool co-op, or attending advisory committee meetings, your voice matters.
Military parent involvement in education creates opportunities, builds stronger communities, and helps our kids feel supported and seen. Every conversation, email, or moment spent advocating is a step toward shaping a better educational experience, not just for your child, but for the whole military-connected community. You don’t have to do everything, but doing something makes all the difference. Keep showing up. Keep asking questions. And most importantly, keep going.
Keep Learning, Keep Leading: Resources for Deeper Involvement
Getting involved in your child’s education as a military parent goes far beyond just volunteering—it’s about staying informed, connected, and proactive in every stage of your child’s academic journey. Whether you're navigating public school, DoDEA, or choosing to homeschool, there are countless ways to strengthen your role and advocate for your family’s needs.
Need help asking the right questions when choosing a caregiver or educational setting? Check out 10 Questions to Ask a New Childcare Provider for insights from a former CPS worker. Thinking about volunteering more? Opportunities Await explores how you can get involved in your installation’s school community in meaningful ways. Concerned about educational equity? Underserved and Overlooked sheds light on special education gaps in DoD schools and the importance of informed advocacy.
If homeschooling is part of your journey, Deciding to Homeschool offers a personal look at why some military families choose this path. For practical support, explore Military Homeschool Curriculum Guide and Homeschooling Overseas for tailored advice and flexible curriculum options that fit your family’s unique needs.
No matter how you support your child’s learning, inside the classroom or beyond the school walls, your involvement matters. These resources are here to help you take the next step with confidence, connection, and purpose.
About the Authors
Jetta Allen and Kimberly Day have served their overseas community on School Advisory Committees, Installation Advisory Committees, and PTSO boards over the years. Jetta Allen’s family is now a homeschool family, and they are learning to navigate resources in their community. Together, these two are active advocates for our military children and their educational opportunities. Together, they have learned that conversations with leadership and creative problem-solving can support their children and the entire community.
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