Compact to remove educational barriers for military children advanced

Senators advanced a bill April 21 that would ease the transition of moving to the state for children whose parents are in the military.

Bellevue Sen. Scott Price introduced LB575, the bill that replicates the federal requirements
contained in the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. An Education Committee amendment, originally introduced as LB63 by Bellevue Sen. Abbie Cornett, replaced provisions of the bill.

The amendment would permit military children to:
• enroll in school when they arrive and provide a hand carried record;
• have 30 days to obtain required immunizations;
• continue schooling at the same grade level they were in prior to transferring;
• participate in athletics and extracurricular programs, even if they are in the middle of the school year;
• have additional excused absences if a parent is preparing for or returning from deployment;
• have a power of attorney as guardianship; and
• complete graduation requirements and receive a high school diploma from their previous school if they transferred in the middle of their senior year.

The amendment also would require the state Department of Education to create and oversee a council within the department that would coordinate the state’s participation in the compact. The department would be allowed to accept devises, donations or bequests to pay for costs associated with administering the compact.

Military families are mobile, said York Sen. Greg Adams, so when they move into the state parents need assurance that their children’s educational rights will be protected.

The amendment was adopted 32-0 and the bill advanced from general file on a 34-0 vote.