OFFICE OF LT. GOV. BARBARA O'BRIEN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2008

CONTACT:

Ellen Dumm, 303.866.6361 (office) or 303.829-0194 (cell), ellen.dumm@state.co.us

Lt. Gov. O'Brien Gets a "Big Thanks" from Military Families for Education Agreement

Lt. Gov. Barbara O'Brien today was presented with a big thank you card from Ft. Carson military families, as Colorado celebrated the activation of an interstate compact that will help students of military families.

Lt. Gov. O'Brien and Col. B. Shannon Davis, Ft. Carson Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff and Aurora Public Schools Superintendent John Barry were among those who helped kick off the activation of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. The interstate compact is designed to unify standards between states for military students. Delaware became the 10th state to sign onto the compact this morning, officially activating the agreement.

"Children in military families transfer often. Most students of military families will enroll in more than a half dozen schools between kindergarten and their senior year in high school. This is an important step to help them succeed in school, no matter where their school is located," said Lt. Gov. O'Brien.

"Military families have often struggled with a jigsaw puzzle of academic requirements as they move during the course of a career and the Interstate Compact on Education addresses that challenge," added Col. Davis.

"My children attended multiple schools during my service, so I know how important this is to military families," said Superintendent John Barry.

Colorado has more than 26,000 students from military families, or 2.4% of the total state student population. The compact allows cooperation between states to create a commission that will write rules for military children regarding transfer, course placement, graduation requirements and other issues that arise from frequent school changes.

Colorado became the fifth state to join the interstate education compact when Gov. Ritter signed HB 1317 on June 5th.

Photo:

Lt. Gov. O'Brien is joined by (L-R): Devin Harriman, Andrew Hall and Jason Harriman. All are from Colorado Springs.