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Education Related Expenses
What expenses are reimbursable and which are not?

The Education Allowance is designed to assist in defraying those costs necessary to obtain educational services which are ordinarily provided without charge by the public schools in the United States, plus, in those cases where adequate schools are not available at the sponsor’s post, the costs of room and board and periodic transportation between the sponsor's post and the nearest locality where an adequate school is available.

The Non-DoD Schools Program pays one-time fees or special costs (i.e., building and maintenance fees, admission fees, registration and matriculation fees if listed on the school’s fee schedule, laboratory, library, group sports class fees, and required "donations") only once during a sponsor’s tour of duty. Except in areas when:

1. The non-DoD school attended does not offer the next grade, e.g., elementary to middle or middle to high school, or the appropriate program;
2. The non-DoD school is not able to accommodate the needs of the child and recommends another school, or;
3. The sponsor is transferred.

Should the sponsor wish to transfer the child to another school, the program may pay only the difference between what the base school charges and what has already been paid. The sponsor will be responsible for any difference between that amount and the full cost of the new school. The payment of one-time fees is limited to an amount not to exceed the total of all one-time fees charged by the base school.

Examples

1. Lunch Fees:
   NDSP will not provide support for meal programs. However, sponsors should contact their individual commands to request financial support and assistance.

2. Mandatory Curricular Field Trips:
   These are defined by DoDEA as organized, school-sponsored activity trips for grades 6-12 (including overnight trips) that are a specifically required component of a regularly scheduled course and participation/non-participation in the activity/trip is directly related to the student’s grade for the course, promotion, or graduation, i.e. non-participation will negatively impact the student’s grade. The mandatory nature of the activity and the curricular relevance must be supported in writing by the principal/headmaster of the school. DoDEA will pay for transportation and entrance fees provided the cost, when combined with tuition and other reimbursed costs, does not exceed the annual DSSR rate. Payment of student per diem-related expenses involving food, lodging, and incidental expenses is prohibited.

   Athletic Trips:
   These are defined by DoDEA as school organized and sponsored athletic trips (e.g. Varsity), required to participate in routine team sports or individual athletic competition for grades 9-12. A school sports schedule showing the scheduled meets must be submitted for reimbursement. DoDEA will pay for transportation provided the cost, when combined with tuition and other reimbursed costs, does not exceed the annual DSSR rate. Payment of student per diem-related expenses involving food, lodging, and incidental expenses is prohibited.

   Non-Mandatory Curricular Field Trips and
   Non-Competitive Athletic Field Trips:
   These are defined by DoDEA as those taken to enhance general knowledge or to supplement a current course or topic of study. These trips need to have direct curricular relevance. Non-participation in these organized, school-sponsored field trips does not affect the grade for the course, promotion, or graduation. DoDEA will pay surface transportation only provided the cost, when combined with tuition and other reimbursed costs, does not exceed the annual DSSR rate. Payment of student per diem-related expenses involving food, lodging, and incidental expenses is prohibited.

3. System-Wide Testing
   DoDEA conducts system-wide testing to measure the educational effectiveness of instruction in a school system. Students in the Non-DoD Schools Program may participate in the DoDEA system-wide testing program. Parents requesting that their children participate may take their child to the nearest DoDEA school to participate in system-wide testing provided the arrangements are made sufficiently in advance for materials to be available. Travel expenses will not be reimbursed.

   System-wide testing conducted by an international school, where cost is included in the tuition, will be supported.