For more information on local public, private or homeschools, please email your Naval Base Ventura County School Liaison Officer: Edith Contreras, edith.contreras3.naf@us.navy.mil or the Installation CYP Program Director: Sandra Walz Garcia, sandra.j.walzgarcia.naf@us.navy.mil

The School Liaison Officer’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. Most military children move up to nine times in their PreK-12th grade years and consistency and retention of educational goals is a major focus for families when planning to PCS. The School Liaison Officers can offer information on area schools and help facilitate communication between the military family on matters relating to regional public and private schools as well as home school and alternative modes of education.

The School Liaison Officer provides information and resources for military families on internal organizations including, but not limited to, Fleet and Family Support Programs (FFSP), Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP), Child and Youth Program (CYP) activities as well as some external organizations, such as but not limited to, the Armed Services YMCA, Military Family Collaborative, and Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. They also serve as a subject matter expert in education-related issues such as the Interstate Compact for Military Children, Department of Education, local school districts and other education related organizations.
*Please see Core Services for specific school related supports available.

The School Liaisons can:
• Answer questions about school enrollment options
• Provide information about local schools and boundaries
• Assist with inbound/outbound school transfers
• Help you understand and navigate the special education process
• Provide resources for college readiness
• Assist with agency referrals
...And much more!

School Liaison Officers are available to assist all service members and their families with school-related questions. Visit our Directory  for contact information or for program updates and assistance.

Why School Liaison Officers?
• Families move an average of every 2.9 years
• Children attend up to 9 different schools by graduation
• Families experience increased stress related to deployment during wartime

Core Services
• School Transition Services (PCS Cycle): School Liaison Officers assist families with school transfers and help “level the playing field” for military children and youth.
• Deployment Support: School Liaison Officers connect educators with the Navy deployment support system to inform them about the cycles of deployment and the tools available to assist educators in working with Navy children.
• Command, School, Community Communications: School Liaison Officers 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 Liaison Officers assist Navy families by gathering and sharing information on home schooling issues, policies and legislation from local school districts. They also help leverage Navy Child and Youth Programs 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 Liaison Officers leverage installation and school resources to provide graduating military students with access to post-secondary information and opportunities.
• Special Needs System Navigation: School Liaison Officers 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.

Academic Anchor

Academic Anchor is Navy Region Southwest's bimonthly School Liaison Newsletter. It addresses educational issues that affect military children in our region and provides information about upcoming events.

What is a School Liaison and how can they help me?
- School Liaison Officers (SLO) help by providing you with educational information on your new area (based on residence) and link you up with a SLO in your next duty station if you are leaving NRSW. SLOs also offer resources on deployment support, are the liaison between command, schools and military families, work with commands and schools on the Partnership in Education program, can help families navigate the special needs programs in districts, and offer information and support for Home School and Post Secondary preparation.

How do I choose a school?
- We know the importance of choosing a school that best meets the needs of your military child(ren). Even though we are unable to make direct recommendations for schools, we are available to help you acquire information and research the schools in your area and within NRSW. We can provide overall information on districts as well as help you determine what schools you might be mapped to once you have a residence.

What is the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)?
- A New Education Law: The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed by President Obama on December 10, 2015, and represents good news for our nation's schools. This bipartisan measure reauthorizes the 50-year-old Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the nation's national education law and longstanding commitment to equal opportunity for all students. The new law builds on key areas of progress in recent years, made possible by the efforts of educators, communities, parents, and students across the country. For more information, please visit: https://www.ed.gov/ESSA

What are the health and immunization requirements?
- Immunization and health check up fact sheet for the California Dept of Education can be found at: www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/hn/cefimmunization.asp. Once you determine where you will live and what school your child will attend, you should also check with your school to be sure there are no additional district requirements.

What are the School Registration procedures?
- This depends on what school district you are looking to enroll your child in. We recommend that once you establish residence, that you contact the school directly. However, one thing you can do to prepare is to use the Checklist for School Moves to ensure that you hand carry all necessary documents.

What do I do if I’m on a housing wait-list or am in temporary housing?
- Most military housing areas and school districts within school boundaries of military housing are familiar with this situation. We recommend that you ask your local housing office for a letter indicating that you are on the waitlist, and will be moving into housing within 30 days. Most times this is all the schools need to proceed with registration. If you have questions or issues, please contact your SLO.

What is the Interstate Compact and what can it do for my family?
- The Interstate Compact seeks to make transition easier for the children of military families so that they are afforded the same opportunities for educational success as other children and are not penalized or delayed in achieving their educational goals. More information can be found at: www.mic3.net.

What options are there for before and after school care?
- Before and After school care is something that has created a challenge for some families given the lack of availability. We recommend that you start looking for care early! As soon as you arrive and have registered your child in school, begin by asking your school or district what they offer. This is many times the best option, particularly if they offer on site care. If they don’t, many times the school will know what is available close to the school or in your community. If you are still having difficulty, contact your School Liaison Officer and they will work with you to try to find other options.

What do I do if I’m moving with a child with special needs?
- In the Navy, your School Liaison Officer can help you with the special needs navigation of the school or district that you are planning to send your child(ren) to. You should also contact the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) to ensure that you are enrolled and that you have all information and resources that they offer. * Please note that the Marine Corps School Liaisons do not assist with Special Needs navigation. They have an EFMP that covers both medical and educational assistance. This is important to know in NRSW, and especially in Metro San Diego since we work jointly to serve our military families.

Can School Liaison Officers advocate in an IEP for my child?
- The Navy School Liaisons are not able to advocate on your behalf. In our program, we offer information, resources and help you find the right people to talk to at the school or district. If you ever have issues with your IEP or school, please call your School Liaison since we also have many community resources that can offer guidance and direct assistance.

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

California Department of Education offers access to a wide variety of information, including the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Common Core State Standards, UC/CSU Entrance Requirements, Specialized Programs and much more.

California Schools Dashboard shows how districts and schools are performing on test scores, graduation rates and other measures of student success.

TUTORING
Tutor.com Tutoring and homework help provided at no cost to active duty service members and their eligible dependents.

TRANSITIONS
Interstate Compact for Military Children has been signed by the state of California and addresses the key issues of eligibility, enrollment, placement, and graduation encountered by military families.

Military One Source for information about your gaining installation and surrounding communities.

Anchored4Life provides transition and resiliency resources and skills to counselors, teachers, parents, and youth.

Department of Defense Education Authority (DoDEA) DoDEA operates 163 schools in 8 Districts located in 11 countries, 7 states, and 2 territories.

POST SECONDARY
CalVet College Tuition Fee Waiver for Veteran Dependents The College Tuition Fee Waiver for Veteran Dependents benefit waives mandatory system-wide tuition and fees at any State of California Community College, California State University, or University of California campus.

Post 9/11 GI Bill

StudentAid.gov The U.S. Department of Education's office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) provides more than $120 billion in financial aid to help pay for college or career school each year.

College Board offers students free grade, activities and test score specific profiles and information on hundreds of colleges.

SAT test registration

ACT test registration

An additional list of scholarship opportunities is available to download from the box at the right.

SPECIAL NEEDS RESOURCES
Your child should be enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) if he or she has special needs. *This is a mandatory program for any family member who has special medical, educational, developmental, and/or emotional need or concern. An EFMP Liaison is available at the NBVC Fleet & Family Support Center and can be reached by calling 805-982-8844. The number for EFMP Navy Headquarters is (866) 827-5672.

TASK Team of Advocates for Special Kids is a nonprofit charitable organization whose mission is to enable individuals with disabilities to reach their maximum potential by providing them, their families and the professionals who serve them with training, support, information, resources and referrals, and by providing community awareness programs.

DirectSTEP® eCourses explain legal requirements and best practices for behavior management, autism, IDEA eligibility, IEPs and more. They also teach parents and educators how to handle critical education issues to obtain positive outcomes while applying education laws to the day-to-day world of teaching and learning. These eCourses are available for use by all Sailors, parents, Military/DoD personnel assigned to Navy installations and K-12 educators serving military children. Go to https://navycyp-ds.lrp.com and self-register for eCourses. The following documents are available for download: Get Started with Direct Step | Direct Step Courses

Youth Sponsorship (grades 3-12) provides access to positive peer groups and social activities, helping military children feel connected at their new duty station. If interested in connecting your child with a local youth sponsor, complete the fields below. Once received, you will be contacted by a School Liaison Officer/Youth Center Manager.

For Youth Sponsorship with School Age Care or Youth Programs, participants must be enrolled or a registered user.

Click here to get started!