A Military Family’s Guide to Navigating School Changes and Transitions 

Military children often face a distinctive set of challenges—including frequent moves and family transitions associated with deployment. Many military families in our community know just how difficult it can be to pack up, move to a new location, and start fresh. 

At One Place, we’re here to help your family build resilience and stability as you navigate these challenges, ensuring a seamless transition to a new community. 

Say goodbye and plan for the move. 

As a military family, you already know that success is only the result of being prepared—so take a similar approach to help your child prepare for a move. 

• Tell your children about the move as soon as you can. Start an open conversation as soon as you’ve received your PCS orders and you’re preparing for your new move. Give your children time to adjust to the idea, say goodbye to their friends, and celebrate their favorite moments spent in Onslow County.  
• Listen and provide answers. Be gentle and patient. Your child may have questions or feel confused about the move. 
• Reassure them. Don’t forget to provide stability for your child—they’ll look to you for guidance and reassurance.  
• Celebrate their favorite moments. Schedule some time to visit your favorite places in Onslow County—maybe it’s a park, restaurant, or activity. 

Prepare for your new home. 

After plenty of open discussions and saying goodbye to your old school, help your family transition to your next adventure with the help of military resources.

• Connect with a school liaison. Military OneSource offers a School Liaison Program that offers an array of services and resources—including transition support for PCS moves and general education transitions. Click here to find a school liaison. 
• Request a sponsor. Find a sponsor who is similar in rank and family status. This program pairs you with someone in your new community and helps you adjust to your new surroundings and locate valuable resources. If you haven’t been assigned a sponsor, you can request one through your new unit. 

• Consider a Youth Sponsorship Program. Many installations provide Youth Services and Sponsorship Programs so your child can meet children in your new community. Learn more here. 

Ensure a smooth transition into school. 

Simplify the school transition process and guarantee a seamless move for your family.  

The Military Families for High Standards recommends the following steps: 

• Organize your school records. Have at least one unofficial copy of your child’s school records and report cards—and don’t forget a copy of your child’s birth certificate and immunization records. 

• Compile school contact information. For older children, compile contact information for teachers at your current school. They can serve as helpful references at your child’s new school. 

• Familiarize yourself with the school curriculum. Because every curriculum has its own methodology, make a few notes of what books or curriculum was used at your child’s previous school. 

• Know your child’s interests. If you have a list of your child’s extracurricular activities, you can help make connections and determine how your child can get involved at their new school. 

• Connect with school liaisons. As mentioned above, school liaisons are a great way to ease your family’s transition to a new school. 

• Get to know your local school board. If you’re curious about what’s happening at your local school district, identify local newspapers and district websites to follow the news. 

• Meet with a school’s special needs director. If your child has special needs, consider communicating with the district’s Special Education Director to determine what services are available to your child. 

• Get familiar with the Interstate Compact. The Interstate Compact addresses key educational transition issues that many military families face—including enrollment, placement, attendance, eligibility, and graduation. Visit www.mic3.net for more information. 
• Take advantage of the plethora of military parent resources. We’re here to help connect you with the resources you need.  Read more here.

Our impact.

At One Place, we consider military families one of our highest priorities—and we’re here to help connect you with the right resources. We often recommend community services offered by the Marine Corps, including the Child & Youth Program, Exceptional Family Member Program, Family Team Building, New Parent Support Program, and more. 

Additional Resources 

• Military Families for High Standards
• Military Child Education Coalition 
• Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission 
• National Military Family Association 
• ZERO TO THREE 

If you would like to connect with a member of our team and learn how to best navigate upcoming transitions or challenges with your children and family, reach out to us today.