Minimum Age Requirements

DoD dependents under the NDSP must follow the host nation age requirement for public school entrance into kindergarten and first grade. Please contact NDSP HQ for the age requirement for specific countries. 

Eligibility for Non-DoD Schools Program (NDSP)

The following conditions must exist to be eligible for Non-DoD Schools Program support:

1. Sponsor must be a military service member serving on active duty and stationed overseas on Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders, or
   A civilian employee of the Department of Defense who is employed on a permanent full time basis, assigned overseas, and is either a citizen or a national of the United States;
2. Sponsors must be authorized to transport dependents* to or from an overseas area at government expense, and
3. Sponsors must be provided an allowance for living quarters in that area.
4. Sponsors must be assigned to a location outside the commuting area of a DoD school.

*School-aged dependents are defined as an individual:

1. Who is the child, stepchild, adopted child, or ward of a DoD sponsor, residing with the sponsor, and is eligible for other command sponsorship services, postal services privileges, and
   Who meets the host nation age requirement for kindergarten, and
2. Has not completed secondary school and will not reach his or her 21st birthday by September 1 of the current school year (or February 1 in the southern hemisphere); or
3. Between 3 and 5 years of age with developmental delays and disabilities may be eligible for services if they meet the DoDEA special education criteria.