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Lisa Ballard, 21st Space Wing military child education coordinator, meets with a customer at her office in the Airmen & Family Readiness Center. The position of military child education coordinator was specifically designed to assist Airmen by enhancing the educational experience of their children. (Air Force photo)

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Peterson, local schools coordinate to enhance education

Published Sept. 8, 2009
By Lisa Ballard
21st Space Wing military child education coordinator

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The vision of the Military Child Education Program is to coordinate and assist school age children of military parents with educational opportunities and information necessary to succeed in an academic environment.

As the military child education coordinator, I network, educate and work in partnership with local schools to provide information which will help to enhance the educational experience of our military children.

The goals of the program are to identify barriers to academic success and develop solutions; promote parental involvement in their children's education; develop and coordinate partnerships in education; provide parents with the tools they need to overcome obstacles to education that stem from the military lifestyle; and to promote and educate local communities and schools regarding the needs of military children.

Each Air Force base and other branches of the military have a point-of-contact for military child education issues. This person advocates for the educational needs of military children, assists Airmen and families with information and referrals regarding local school districts and other education options including home schooling, private schools, charter schools, and cyber schools; and ensures a communication link with inbound or outbound family members for educational issues.

The average military family moves nine times over a 20 year career. When military children move, they are faced with a variety of school-related challenges. The challenges include:

- Partnerships with school districts
- School choice
- Transfer of records
- Immunization and age
- Requirements
- Students in special programs
- Students with special education needs
- Calendars and schedules
- Connectedness
- Graduation requirements
- Extracurricular activities
- Senior year moves

Peterson AFB has recognized these challenges and has responded by establishing a military child education coordinator position.

In that position I will help you and your family with these challenges so the family has the tools needed for the student to succeed in an academic environment.

To speak with me regarding these issues call the Airman & Family Readiness Center at 556-6141 or e-mail lisa.ballard@peterson.af.mil.

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