Governor signs House Bill 297

DOVER , Del. -- Representative Nancy Wagner, 31st District, Del., left, and Leslye Arsht, deputy under secretary of defense for military community and family policy, right; sit with Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner as she signs House Bill 297, the Compact for Education Transition for Military Children, at a ceremony at Dover High School Thursday. Delaware was the tenth state to sign the Compact, thus activating it and making educational transitions for active-duty military families easier among states participating in the Compact. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jason Minto)

Governor signs House Bill 297

DOVER, Del. -- Servicemembers and their families gathered with Delaware officials at a ceremony for the signing of House Bill 297, the Compact for Education Transition for Military Children, at Dover High School Thursday. Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner signed the bill into law, making Delaware the tenth state to join the Compact, thus activating it and making educational transitions for active-duty military families easier amongst states participating in the Compact. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jason Minto)

Signing the Bill

Dover, Del. -- (Back row, left to right) Air Force Col. Steven Harrison, 436th Airlift Wing commander, Representative Donna Stone, 32nd District, Del., Army Maj. Gen. Frank Vavala, Delaware National Guard adjutant general, Craig Whelden, Army assistant chief of staff for installation management; (front row, left to right) Representative Nancy Wagner, 31st District, Del., Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner and Leslye Arsht, deputy under secretary of defense for military community and family policy joined together to celebrate the signing ceremony for House Bill 297, the Compact for Education Transition for Military Children, at Dover High School Thursday. Delaware was the tenth state to sign the Compact, thus activating it and making educational transitions for active-duty military families easier amongst states participating in the Compact. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jason Minto)

Military Child Education Agreement signed

Published July 17, 2008
By 2nd Lt. Brian Maguire
436 AW Public Affairs

DOVER, Del. -- Delaware has always been proud of its moniker the "First State," but today military families can laud Delaware as the tenth state in ratifying House Bill 297, the Compact on Education Transition for Military Children.

Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner signed House Bill 297 July 17, making Delaware the tenth state to adopt the compact. Adoption in 10 states makes the compact operational.

"It is certainly gratifying to witness this most momentous occasion, as Delaware becomes the all-important tenth state to improve the compact and making its vision a reality," said Leslye A. Arsht, deputy undersecretary of defense for military community and family policy, at the bill-signing ceremony.

The compact was developed by the Council of State Governments, education and military family experts and the Department of Defense to address common problems active duty members encounter as they change assignments.

"This compact will facilitate a smoother transition, from state to state and school to school, by lifting a tremendous burden from our military families and greatly enhancing the quality of their lives," said Ms. Arsht.

Compact commissioners from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri and Oklahoma will now meet to establish an Interstate Commission. The Commission will work to create uniform standards of practice regarding education requirements the member states will follow.

"I have been waiting for this bill for twenty years," said Col. Steven Harrison, 436th Airlift Wing commander. "In my twenty-year career we've moved 12 times, my daughters went to three separate high schools, and it was always a tremendous challenge."

"This is exactly what we need," he said, in reference to the compact.

The Interstate Commission will work to reconcile the variations in graduation requirements, course content, student assessment and eligibility for extra-curricular activities. These standards should allow military children to easily transfer schools between member states.

"This gives my daughter a chance to focus on her AP classes and preparing for college, instead of repeating various classes because of the difference in school curriculum," said Master Sgt. Juanita Thomas, 436th Operations Support Squadron first sergeant.

The rules established by the Interstate Commission to ease the transition of military children will only apply to those states that have signed on to the compact. The North Carolina legislature has approved the compact, which is currently awaiting the governor's signature, while 10 other state legislatures are considering the compact.

"This bill sends the message that we in Delaware take care of our military," said Maj. Gen. Frank Vavala, Delaware National Guard adjutant general. "Not just the men and women of our Delaware National Guard, but all of those who serve in the First State. Our active duty component and counterparts certainly deserve this legislation."