Go to main content 

How to Enroll
First Steps for Parents and Sponsors

The DoDDS-Europe Non-DoD Schools Program has the responsibility to support educational services at government expense to authorized command-sponsored dependents of military members and DoD civilian employees assigned to overseas areas where no DoD Dependents School is available within the commuting area. Approval for the enrollment of an eligible minor dependent of a DoD sponsor must be obtained from DoDDS-Europe prior to enrolling a child in a non-DoD school.

Enrollment

  1. Upon receipt of assignment orders to an overseas location where there is no Department ofDefense Dependents School (DoDDS), contact the School Liaison Officer (SLO) at your gaining command/new location. The SLO will provide information on available schooling options at that location.
    • Parents may not make a commitment of U.S. Government funds to any educational institution without completing the following steps to obtain approval from the approving authority.
      Note minimal age requirements on home page.
  2. Gather information about the educational options available and decide which option is best for your dependents.
  3. Please send the following to the School Liaison Officer (SLO):
    • A copy of the sponsor's assignment orders, including all amendments.
    • This linked document is a PDFDoDEA Form 610, Application for Enrollment in a Non-DoD School. Send one form for each eligible dependent.
    • If the dependent's names are not listed on the sponsor's orders or in a separate Dependent Travel Order, please send Verification of Command Sponsorship, This linked document is a PDFDSE Form 920.

    Note: Forms and additional information are available on the Non-DoD Schools Program (NDSP) website

    Note: Students who have special education needs should be referred to the NDSP Education Office. See the Special Education section on this website.

    Note: Parents electing to enroll their dependents in a home study program should refer to the Home Schooling Information on the NDSP website.

  4. The SLO will review the documents, obtain necessary command signatures, and will forward the documents to the DoDDS-Europe Non-DoD Schools Program Administrative Office using the This linked document is a PDFNDSP checklist coversheet
  5. DoDDS-Europe NDSP will process the request and send email notification to the SLO and sponsor within ten working days of receipt of the complete packet. The packet is complete when all necessary documents and signatures are included.
  6. Upon receipt of approval from NDSP, the sponsor may proceed with completing the application for the particular school named on the This linked document is a PDFDoDEA Form 610.

Placement of Students in Locations not Served by DoDEA

Elementary School Services/Placement (Grades K-5)
Grades K-5, in priority order:
1. Local public school delivering instruction in English and is tuition-free;
  • Exception for South Africa, Singapore, and Jamaica
2. If not available then,
  • Home-based schooling/correspondence courses reimbursed by DoDEA (parent option), or,
  • Local private day school delivering instruction in English (or any language acceptable to the parents) - tuition reimbursed by DoDEA.

Middle School Services/Placement (Grades 6-8)
Grades 6-8 in priority order
1. Local public school delivering instruction in English and is tuition-free;
  • Exception for UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Singapore, and Jamaica
2. If not available then,
  • Home-based schooling/correspondence courses reimbursed by DoDEA (parent option), or,
  • Local private day school delivering instruction in English (or any language acceptable to the parents) - tuition reimbursed by DoDEA;
3. If not available then, 3.
  • Private boarding school in theater (see note)
  • U.S. private boarding school

High School Services/Placement(Grades 9-12)
Grades 9-12 in priority order
1. Local public school delivering instruction in English and is tuition-free;
  • Exception for UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Singapore, and Jamaica
2. If not available then,
  • Home-based schooling/correspondence courses reimbursed by DoDEA (parent option), or,
  • Local private day school delivering instruction in English (or any language acceptable to the parents) - tuition reimbursed by DoDEA;
3. If not available then, 3.
  • Private boarding school in theater (see note)
  • U.S. private boarding school
Exceptions

The only exception to this policy will be for those dependents whose DoD sponsors are either independently assigned to a Department of State activity or in a personnel exchange program status to a host nation program. In these cases the DoD sponsor will be afforded the same educational allowance provided to Department of State employees or to members of the host nation program to which the DoD sponsor is assigned or attached up to the published Department of State Standard Regulation rate.

Notes:

Boarding school (OCONUS/CONUS) delivering instruction in English or any language acceptable to the parents within the established DSSR cap based on the sponsor’s post location. Area Policy: DDESS, exceptions for Central and South America; DoDDS-E/P, prior policy applies, exceptions on case-by-case basis. DoDEA will reimburse round-trip transportation to overseas residence which usually coincides with the winter (Christmas) recess and the spring (Easter) recess, if within the cap.

Skip footer nav, go to the end of the page.