School Liaison Officer
Dear Military Parent,
Welcome to Tampa, FL; my name is Nelly Richards, School Liaison Officer (SLO) at MacDill AFB. I am your central point of contact between MacDill AFB and the local public school system. I am committed to making sure you are well informed about local education policies. I am here to guide you in the selection of the school that best fits your child’s interest/needs. Choosing the right school for your child takes careful planning, research, and strategy. In our county, several school options are offered, neighborhood area, choice, magnet, career/technical, charter, virtual, and home schools. Visit the Hillsborough Public School District (HCPSD) website http://www.sdhc.k12.fl.us/choice/index.asp to find the school that best suits your child’s needs. Attendance Area or Neighborhood School, is a school assignment based on the student’s home address. Families do not need to complete an application for their children to attend or remain at their attendance area or neighborhood school. Parents need to contact the school for enrollment requirements. Go to https://choice.sdhc.k12.fl.us/locator/Default.asp to find your child’s attendance area school. If you reside on base your designated area schools are Tinker Elementary School, Monroe Middle School and Robinson High School. To print an application for Tinker Elem School go to https://choice.sdhc.k12.fl.us/pdf/tinker_appl.pdf
School Choice, provides parents and legal guardians with children entering grades k-11 the opportunity to choose up to three non-magnet schools or Career &Technical Education programs. Go to http://www.sdhc.k12.fl.us/choice/regions.asp to find choice area schools.
Magnet Schools, are elementary, middle and high schools with theme-based curriculum offering innovative and rigorous academic instruction by specially trained teachers in smaller learning communities. Parents may choose from a list of schools with space available. Go to http://www.sdhc.k12.fl.us/magnet/ to find a magnet school in your area.
Incoming military parents without a permanent address at MacDill may apply for school choice using the following address:
C/O A&FRC Attn: Nelly Richards
8105 Condor Street Bldg. 18
MacDill AFB, FL 33621
Career/Technical Schools, offer technical training leading to high wage/high skill jobs and to further post secondary education. Go to http://www.sdhc.k12.fl.us/cte to find a career/tech school in your area.
Virtual Schools, provide innovative educational options for all types of students at all grade levels. Go to http://www.sdhc.k12.fl.us/virtual to find virtual school information.
Charter Schools are independent public schools operated by a non-profit organization. Go to http://www.sdhc.k12.fl.us/charter/charterschools.asp to see a listing of the charter schools in your area.
Transportation is provided to some options within the region a student resides. In some areas, transportation may be limited or not available at all. To view these options, click here. Transportation will not be provided if you live within the two-mile walking attendance area for the school.
Important Dates to Remember:
The third application period for students applying to Elementary Middle and High schools is Jul 9 - 18, 2012
Student Calendars: http://www.sdhc.k12.fl.us/info/calendars/pdfs/2011-2012cal.pdf
High School Graduation Dates:
http://www.sdhc.k12.fl.us/info/calendars/pdfs/2011GraduationDates.pdf
ESE and Career Centers Graduation Dates: http://www.sdhc.k12.fl.us/info/calendars/pdfs/2011GraduationDates.pdf
Tentative Testing schedule: http://www.sdhc.k12.fl.us/info/calendars/pdfs/1112TestingCalendar.pdf
End of Grading Periods:
March 30, 2012; June 8, 2012
Report Card Distribution Dates:
Elementary: Jan 27, Apr 13, June 8, 2012
Secondary: Feb 3, Apr 19, 2012; IV Qtr mailed to students
School Early Release Days:
Every Monday, except Mondays on which school holidays fall, students will be released one hour early. The last day of school, Friday, June 8, 2012, students will be dismissed 2.5 hours early.
John M. McKay Scholarship for military children with special needs provides Florida students with disabilities a scholarship to attend a private school, or the option of choosing a public school other than the one they are zoned for. In general, a student receiving the McKay Scholarship must have attended a Florida public school for the school year prior to the scholarship. For active duty military personnel relocating to Florida due to permanent change of station orders, the prior year attendance and current enrollment requirements may be waived. For additional information visit:
http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org/information/mckay/mckay_military_intent_instructions.asp
Home School Information: http://www.sdhc.k12.fl.us/homeeducation/index.asp
Printable school list and school Principals contact information: http://www.sdhc.k12.fl.us/schools/PrintableSchoolsList.asp
To find in-depth information about the school choices and magnet school options go to: http://www.sdhc.k12.fl.us/choice/pdf/appguide.pdf
Nelly Richards may be contacted at (813) 828-0146, Commercial or 968-0146, DSN. E-mail: nelly.richards@us.af.mil
Additional information and resources on pages 2-3
Hillsborough County Public Schools Choice Information
Other programs of interest and information on how to enroll or register: http://www.sdhc.k12.fl.us/Schools/HowToEnroll.asp
Free tutoring & deployment resources for military children
Student Online Achievement Resources (SOAR): this program is designed for military families, and is easily accessible worldwide. Students take an assessment aligned to state standards, and SOAR directs them to individualized tutorials to improve skills where needed. Parents can monitor their children’s progress from anywhere, and are provided with resource materials. To register please go to http://www.soarathome.com
Tutor.com for military families: free tutoring service for Active Duty, National Guard and Reserve members in the Army, Marines, Navy or Air Force and their dependents. Tutors are online 24/7 and available to help in more than 16 subjects. To register please go to their website at http://www.tutor.com/military
Military OneSource: provides military families relocation assistance information. Whether you are looking for schools, child care, personal finances, emotional support during deployments, relocation information, or resources needed for special circumstances Military OneSource is there for you 24/7 to help you plan a smooth move. To obtain relocation assistance information from the Military OneSource visit their website at http://www.militaryonesource.mil/MOS/f?p=MOS:TOPIC:0::::SV,UT,LG,CID,TID:Army Active,Member,EN,23.50.10.0.0.0.0.0.0,23.50.10.20.0.0.0.0.0
Military Impacted Schools Association (MISA):
is a national organization of school superintendents. MISA works on funding legislation, partnerships and programs for military families on the move. MISA conducts workshops for educators and provides resources on connectedness, building resilience, military life, transition, and deployment. http://www.militaryimpactedschoolsassociation.org/?CFID=22103715&CFTOKEN=4855e389ed8c538d-155A121B-D82C-7B39-FDD9D8F9D9E91A4D
Free SAT and ACT Prep Online: students currently enrolled in a Hillsborough County public school may contact the school’s guidance counselor to register for SAT help online. Free assistance with both tests is also available through the SOAR website at http://www.soarathome.com
For dining, lodging, life, leisure, recreation, child care, youth and other support services visit the 6th Force Support Squadron’s website at
http://www.macdillfss.com/mainmenu-au.aspx?SectionID=100
For helpful newcomers information visit the 6 AMW/CC webpage at http://www.macdill.af.mil/newcomersinfo.asp
Florida Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for Military Children. The main purpose of the compact is to remove barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families because of frequent moves and deployment of their parents by facilitating the timely enrollment of children of military families and ensuring that they are not placed at a disadvantage due to difficulty in the transfer of education records from the previous school district or variations in entrance or age requirements. To review the compact statues please go to:
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=1000-1099/1000/Sections/1000.36.html
Please go to page 3 to see the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for Military Children Family Rights.
Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC): is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit, world-wide organization. A model of positive leadership and advocacy, the MCEC’s work is focused on ensuring quality educational opportunities for all military-connected children affected by mobility, family separation, and transition. MCEC's role is to help families, schools, and communities be better prepared to support children during frequent moves and difficult - and sometimes traumatic -times in the life of military families. To review relocation information for parents visit MCEC’s website at
http://www.militarychild.org/military-parent
SchoolQuest.org: is an educational resource tool operated by the Military Child Education Coalition. SchooQuest offers transitioning families school information in their new home areas, allows parents to create a safe and secure "Profile" area where student information can be stored, and offers research–tested Military Child Education Coalition support to students in transition. To find school information in your new home area go to
http://www.schoolquest.org/
For EFMP services and resources contact Ms. Kristine Keyser at (813) 828-0122, Commercial or 968-0122, DSN. Email: kristine.keyser@us.af.mil
To learn about the Key Spouse program contact Ms. Dora Mays at (813) 828-0138, Commercial or 968-0138, DSN. E-mail: dora.mays@us.af.mil
For Relocation assistance contact Ms. Shirley Smith at (813)828-0122, Commercial or 968-0122 DSN. E-mail at shirley.smith@us.a.fmil
For school information not found on this website call (813) 828-0146, Commercial or 968-0146, DSN. E-mail: nelly.richards@us.af.mil
grievance and hearing rights regarding eligibility and placement. (Florida Statutes, 1000.36, Article V, C) Section 504 is a federal law that protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination and provides eligible students with accommodations in order that they will have access to educational programs. For additional information on services for students with disabilities, contact the Florida Department of Education, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services at 850-245-0475.
• Florida school districts shall grant additional excused absences at the discretion of a district superintendent in order to allow the student to visit with the student’s parent/legal guardian relative to leave or deployment. (Florida Statutes, Article V, E)
• Schools shall facilitate the opportunity for the inclusion of military children in extracurricular activities to the extent they are otherwise qualified, regardless of application deadlines. (Florida Statutes, 1003.05 {1}) and Rules adopted by the Interstate Compact Commission, Sec.6.101 {b}
• School districts shall waive specific courses for graduation if similar coursework has been satisfactorily completed in the sending state or shall provide reasonable justification for denial. If a waiver is not granted, the school shall provide an alternative means of acquiring the required coursework so that graduation may occur on time. (Florida Statutes 1000.36, Article VII, A)
Florida school districts shall accept exit or end-of-course exams required for graduation or norm-referenced achievement tests equivalent scores. (Florida Statutes 1000.36, Article VII, B)
• If a transitioning student who transfers in his/her senior year is ineligible to graduate after all alternatives have been considered, both the sending and receiving state schools shall ensure the receipt of a diploma from the sending state school if the student meets the graduation requirements of the sending school. (Florida Statutes, 1000.36, Article VII, C).
Primary Points of Contact
Bettye Hyle
Student Support Services Team Leader
Florida Department of Education
Capt (Ret) Robert Buehn Commissioner
1883 Osprey Bluff Boulevard | Fleming Island, FL | 32003
bbuehn@yahoo.com | ph 904.327.9986
Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for Military Children Family Rights 5/14/12
Issues related to enrollment/placement for transitioning student:
• Upon receipt of official or unofficial educational records, the receiving state shall enroll and appropriately place, as quickly as possible the student based on the information provided pending validation by the official records. (Florida Statutes, 1000.36, Article IV, A)
• The sending state must furnish the official records within ten days. (Florida Statutes, 1000.36, Article IV, B)
• Students may be enrolled, pending any required immunizations (30 days to obtain the initial required immunizations). (Florida Statutes, 1000.36, Article IV, C)
• Students shall be allowed to continue their enrollment at the grade level commensurate with their grade level attended in the sending state at the time of transition. (Florida Statutes, 1000.36, Article IV, D)
• A special power of attorney, relative to the guardianship of a child of a military family, executed under applicable law is sufficient for the purposes of enrollment and all other actions requiring parental participation and consent. (Florida Statutes, Article VI, A.1)
• Enrolling military children are allowed to complete an application for a magnet/charter school even if the application deadline has passed. They will be placed at the top of the waiting list for entry into the magnet/charter school. (Florida Statutes, 1003.05 {3})
• A school in the receiving state shall initially honor placement of a transferring student in educational courses, if such courses are offered, based on the student’s enrollment in the sending state school. Course placement includes, but is not limited to honors, International Baccalaureate (IB), advanced placement, Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE), vocational, technical and career pathways courses. (Florida Statutes, 1000.36, Article V, A)
A receiving state school shall initially honor placement of a student in educational programs based on current educational assessments conducted at a school in the sending state for such programs as gifted and ESOL. Further assessments may be conducted at the receiving school to determine eligibility for these programs in Florida. (Florida Statutes, Article V, B).
For students with disabilities, a receiving state shall initially provide comparable services based on the student’s current Individual Education Plan (IEP) or Section 504 accommodation plan, but may perform subsequent evaluations to ensure appropriate placement of a student. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, parents with children with disabilities |
