NNSY - School Liaison

The School Liaison’s primary function is to serve as a conduit between parents, educators and the command so that military-connected children experience a seamless transition during the transfer between schools. Knowing that many military children move an average of every 2.9 years, School Liaison Officers can provide families with educational information to assist them as they begin their PCS planning.

The Child and Youth Education Services program supports military families with seven cores services provided by the School Liaison:

School Transition Services (PCS Cycle): School Liaisons assist families with school transfers and help “level the playing field” for military children and youth.
Deployment Support: School Liaisons connect educators with the military deployment support system to inform them about the cycles of deployment and the tools available to assist educators in working with military children.
Command, School, & Community Communications: School Liaisons serve as subject-matter experts for installation commanders on K-12 issues, helping to connect command, school and community resources.
Home School Linkage and Support: School Liaisons assist military families by gathering and sharing information on home schooling issues, policies and legislation from local school districts. They also help leverage military Child and Youth Program resources to support these families.
Partnerships in Education (PIE): PIE creates a volunteer network of resources to support installation and community members who have a vested interest in the success of all youth.
Post-Secondary Preparations: School Liaisons leverage installation and school resources to provide graduating military students with access to post-secondary information and opportunities.
Special Needs System Navigation: School Liaisons provide information about installation and community programs and services, make referrals to the Exceptional Family Member Program, and offer assistance in navigating the administrative systems within local education agencies.

Public School Information

Please note: In Virginia your physical address determines the schools your children will attend.
NNSY Installation SL services the following school divisions:

Isle of Wight | Portsmouth Public Schools | Suffolk Public Schools

Enrollment/Registration
Please find specific enrollment/registration information for:

Isle of Wight Public Schools at https://www.iwcs.k12.va.us/apps/pages/enrollment
Portsmouth Public Schools at https://pps.k12.va.us/families/student_registration
Suffolk Public Schools at https://www.spsk12.net/new_families/enrollment

Medical information, required immunizations and forms are included. Registration must be done in person and at the zoned school site.

Private School Information

There are many private school options in the Hampton Roads area which include, but are not limited to Montessori, Religiously Affiliated, and Special Education to name a few. The Virginia Council for Private Education (VCPE) provides a complete listing of private school options for the state of Virginia at https://www.vcpe.org/. Additionally, The Private School Review at https://www.privateschoolreview.com/ can provide a listing of all schools by local city.

Home School Information

Parents interested in home schooling their children should be aware that the state of Virginia requires notification of the intent to home school.

Virginia Department of Education Home Instruction:
https://www.doe.virginia.gov/families/private_home/index.shtml

Isle of Wight:
https://www.iwcs.k12.va.us/apps/pages/homeinstruction

Portsmouth:
https://www.ppsk12.us/cms/one.aspx?portalId=794578&pageId=65349145

Suffolk:
https://www.spsk12.net/families/home-instruction|

Home Educators Association of Virginia:
https://heav.org/

Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers:
https://vahomeschoolers.org/

Homeschool Support in Hampton Roads:
https://mooreexpressions.com/

An additional resource for military families choosing to home school. Home School Association fro Military Families.
https://hslda.org/

K-12 Special Needs

Parents of special needs students can connect with their local public school’s Parent Resource and Information Center:

Isle of Wight Public Schools:
https://www.iwcs.k12.va.us/apps/pages/sped

Portsmouth Public Schools:
https://pps.k12.va.us/

Suffolk Public Schools:
https://www.spsk12.net/departments/special-education

Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center is the parent information and training center serving families and professionals of children with disabilities in the Commonwealth of Virginia https://www.peatc.org

Special Ed Connection, a free web-based resource available to Navy families, provides resources and tools that enable families to better understand special education requirements and available services.www.SpecialEdConnection.com. Please contact your local School Liaison for login access.

DirectSTEP® eCourses:
Another free web-based resource, can assist with navigating the complexities of special education laws and procedures https://elibrary.cnic-n9portal.net/document-library/?id=815

Military OneSource offers assistance to families with special needs family members at their website:
https://www.militaryonesource.mil/

Specialized Training of Military Parents (STOMP):
https://wapave.org/

Parents’ Guide to Special Education:
https://www.doe.virginia.gov/special_ed/parents/parents_guide.pdf

Guidance for Military Families with Students in Special Education: https://www.doe.virginia.gov/special_ed/parents/military_families_sped_guidance_.pdf

Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)

Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) Liaisons are located at Fleet and Family Support Centers and provide information and referral to help EFM families identify and access appropriate military, national and community resources. They assist in the navigation of EFMP related programs and systems and are responsible for:

Provision of information, referral and systems navigation to special needs families
Linking families with available military, national and local community resources
Non-medical case management
Development and maintenance of Individualized Service Plans (ISP)
Partner with Military Treatment Facility (MTF) Coordinators to provide information, education and marketing

Youth Sponsorship

The Youth Sponsorship program is designed to assist young people in making the transition from one installation to another successfully. It is our goal to help incoming youth adjust and get connected with a youth sponsor at the installation. Youth Sponsors will provide information about area schools, attractions and the surrounding community. This program is created by and for youth with youth involvement in every aspect of the program. To apply for a youth sponsor please complete the request form and email it to your School Liaison.

INSTALLATION CHILD AND YOUTH PROGRAMS

For Information about: Child Development Centers | School Aged Care | Youth Sponsorship | Teen Program

Please go to https://www.navylifema.com/child-youth for regional information.

Our website so that parents can get on the waiting list for military childcare. https://militarychildcare.com/

For parents who cannot find care within our CYP. They must be registered on https://militarychildcare.com/ and on a waitlist to qualify. https://usa.childcareaware.org/fee-assistancerespite/

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the kindergarten age cutoff date?
- September 30
Do I have to live in the Zone where the school is located to attend?
- Yes, however there are exceptions for out of zone requests that must be submitted for approval to the school principal. There must be an extenuating circumstance, such as childcare, and then it is dependent upon school capacity.
- In July of 2018 VA passed HB1085 for Public schools allowing open enrollment for military families. It requires any local school board of a school division in which a military installation or other military housing is located to establish and implement policies to provide for the enrollment to any school of any student residing on a military installation or in military housing within the school division, upon the request of his parent. The bill permits such policies to include certain conditions. The bill requires a copy of such policies to be posted on the division's website and to be available to the public upon request. VBCPS has implemented this similar to their other out of zone requests depending upon school capacity and extenuating circumstances.
Do the local schools have talented and gifted programs? Yes, at all levels.
Is there school choice or other school options in the area? In VA your address determines your school.
- See answer to question 2
What schedule does the local high school follow…traditional, block, A/B Block…? Traditional.

DoDEA Information

Department of Defense Education Activity
DoDEA

The website you need to visit if you are PCSing to an area overseas that does not have a DODEA school.
DODEA NDSP