DoDEA

ARLINGTON, VA — August 12, 2010 — School Year 2010-2011 is beginning for more than 84,000 students of the Department of Defense Education Activity’s (DoDEA) 194 schools around the world. DoDEA plans, directs, coordinates, and manages pre-kindergarten through 12th grade education programs for Department of Defense (DoD) dependents who would otherwise not have access to a high-quality, public education. DoDEA schools are located in Europe, the Pacific, the United States, Cuba, Guam and Puerto Rico. DoDEA also provides support and resources to Local Education Activities throughout the U.S. that serve children of military families.

DoDEA is a DoD field activity operating under the direction, authority and control of the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy.

DoDEA operates 194 schools in 14 districts located in 12 foreign countries, seven states, Guam, and Puerto Rico. All schools within DoDEA are fully accredited by U.S. accreditation agencies. Approximately 8,700 educators serve more than 84,000 DoDEA students.

DoDEA Headquarters is located in Arlington, Va. With more than 300 employees, the DoDEA Headquarters manages Educational Programs for the school system; the Logistics and Resource Management support for its schools; and Personnel and Human Resources services.

DoDEA-Americas (Domestic Dependents Elementary and Secondary Schools – DDESS), headquartered in Peachtree City, Ga., is composed of five districts, with 64 schools located on 16 military installations in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. DoDEA Americas employs approximately 4,100 people, and nearly 26,000 students attend the Area’s schools.

DoDEA Europe (Department of Defense Dependents Schools – DoDDS), headquartered in Wiesbaden, Germany, operates 81 schools within five districts throughout Europe. DoDEA Europe employs more than 5,000 people and more than 34,000 students attend the Area’s schools.

DoDEA Pacific (Department of Defense Dependents Schools – DoDDS), headquartered in Okinawa, Japan, operates 48 schools within four districts and serves more than 24,000 students affiliated with 19 military installations within the Pacific. DoDEA Pacific employs more than 3,000 people.

School Leadership

DoDEA’s school leadership has recently changed. Key school leaders include:

Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (USD P&R)
Dr. Clifford L. Stanley is the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. He was sworn in on February 16, 2010 and is the principal staff assistant and advisor to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense for total force management as it relates to readiness, National Guard and Reserve component affairs, health affairs, training and personnel requirements and management, including equal opportunity, morale, welfare, and recreation, and quality of life matters.

http://prhome.defense.gov/

Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy (DUSD MC&FP)
Mr. Robert L. Gordon, III, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy (MC&FP). He was assigned to this position on July 19, 2010 and his office is directly responsible for programs and policies which establish and support community quality of life programs on military installations for service members and their families worldwide.

http://prhome.defense.gov/MCFP/mcfpMission.aspx

Director, Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA)
Ms. Marilee Fitzgerald was assigned as the Acting Director of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) on June 24, 2010. Ms. Fitzgerald has oversight of the 194 DoDEA schools in the United States and overseas. DoDEA plans, directs, coordinates, and manages the education programs for eligible dependents of U.S. military personnel and civilian personnel of the DoD. DoDEA provides an exemplary education that inspires and prepares all students for success in a dynamic, global environment. The DoDEA instructional program provides a comprehensive prekindergarten through 12th grade curriculum that is dedicated to attaining highest student achievement for all students.

Principal Deputy Director and Associate Director for Education
Mr. Charlie Toth is the Principal Deputy Director and Associate Director for Education for the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). He is responsible for the instructional and educational programs for DoDEA’s 194 schools located throughout the world.

Associate Director for Financial and Business Operations
Mr. Kevin Kelly is DoDEA’s Associate Director for Financial and Business Operations. Mr. Kelly is the principal advisor to the DoDEA Director in the areas of programming, budgeting, accounting, reimbursable program management, procurement, information management and technology, safety and security, and logistics.

Area Director for DoDEA Americas Schools
Dr. Bruce W. Jeter is the Area Director for DoDEA Americas Schools. Selected as the Area Director in April 2010, Dr. Jeter oversees the operations of 64 schools located on 16 military installations in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. DoDEA schools in the Americas region are structured into 5 districts and employ more than 4,000 people. Nearly 26,000 students attend DoDEA Americas schools.

Area Director for DoDEA Europe Schools
Dr. Nancy Bresell is the Area Director for DoDEA Schools in Europe. Assigned as the Area Director in July 2009, Dr. Bresell oversees the operations of 82 schools located in Bahrain, Belgium, England, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Turkey. DoDEA Schools in Europe are structured into 5 districts and employ more than 5,000 people. Nearly 35,000 students attend DoDEA Europe schools.

Area Director for DoDEA Pacific Schools
Ms. Diana Ohman is the Area Director for DoDEA schools in the Pacific. Assigned as the Area Director in July 2009, Ms. Ohman oversees the operation 48 schools located in Guam, Japan, Korea and Okinawa. DoDEA Schools in the Pacific are structured into 4 districts and employ more than 4,000 people. Nearly 24,000 students attend DoDEA Pacific schools.

DoDEA Schools Span the Globe

DoDEA champions quality education for all military children. Meeting this requirement for military children attending DoDEA schools as well those attending local education agencies (LEAs), is a high-priority for DoD.

Student performance and achievement does not happen by chance and for School Year 2010-2011, DoDEA will continue its emphasis on highest student achievement and continuous improvement.

DoDEA knows that a rigorous curriculum and high standards are the foundation for a student body that is academically and socially prepared and positioned for success in life. DoDEA students, kindergarten through 12th grade, have a world of academic opportunities available to them through the doors of study in foreign languages and culture; technology, mathematics, a virtual high school and Advanced Placement courses.

DoDEA schools are consistently ranked in the top ten states for student performance on nationwide assessments such as the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and the TerraNova Multiple Assessments. DoDEA students’ performance reflects the emphasis and delivery of increased academic rigor and a challenging curriculum despite the unique circumstances the system faces every year through transition, deployments, and an annual 1/3 student population turnover.

In 2009, DoDEA was one of only two states whose minority achievement gap was smaller than the nation’s average gap in all of the grade and subject areas citied in the National Center for Education Statistics’ Report, �Achievement Gaps: How Black and White Students in Public Schools Perform in Mathematics and Reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).� DoDEA’s score gaps are consistently below 20 points on the test’s 500-point scale. The national average gap across grade levels four and eight was 27.5 points.

School Year 2010-2011 Calendars

DoDEA schools begin School Year 2010-2011 on different dates in each area. School breaks vary in each area as well. School calendars can be viewed at: http://www.dodea.edu/home/calendars.cfm.

New Schools to Open in School Year 2010-2011

Three new schools will open during School Year 2010-2011 in the DoDEA system – one in the United States, one in Italy, and one in Korea:

• Fort Campbell Elementary School, Fort Campbell, Ky. – scheduled to open at mid-year. The school will accommodate nearly 600 students in grades Pre-K through 5.
• Camp Casey Elementary/Middle School, Camp Casey, Korea – opens at the beginning of School Year 2010-2011. The school will accommodate 230 students in grades K-8 this year. Another addition is scheduled to open in School Year 2011-2012, increasing enrollment to more than 600 students.
• Vicenza Elementary/Middle School, Vicenza, Italy – opens at the beginning of School Year 2010-2011. This school campus is comprised of two schools in one building – Vicenza Elementary School with a student population of more than 1,000 in grades K-5; and Vicenza Middle School, with a population of more than 200 students in grades 6-8.

DoDEA Facilities Renovation and Construction Initiative

DoDEA begins School Year 2010-2011 with a major facilities renovation and construction initiative that will eventually result in the modernization of 134 schools worldwide.

The initiative starts this October with the beginning of Fiscal Year 2011 and is scheduled to span the next several fiscal years through Fiscal Year 2016. Close collaboration and cooperation between DoDEA, The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, the Military Services, the Department of Defense Comptroller, and the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Installations and Environment resulted in a plan to address $3.7 billion in Military Construction (MILCON) needs for DoDEA facilities.

For more information on the MILCON Initiative, visit: http://www.dodea.edu/pressroom/releasesDisplay.cfm?prId=20100810

DoDEA’s Student Transportation Program

A great deal of planning and coordination is involved in operating DoDEA’s worldwide student transportation system. More than 44,000 DoDEA students are registered bus riders. These students travel nearly 50,000 miles every day on 1,500 separate routes. DoDEA also provides transportation support for students traveling to and from curricular and co-curricular activities, after-school activities and clubs, sports practices and events, and other special school events. DoDEA provides special needs students with dedicated transportation services that are supported with trained safety aides on board every school transportation vehicle. Security attendants also ride every bus route traveling off military installations and this service extends to include all after-school activity buses.

DoDEA’s Student Meal Program

DoDEA’s Student Meal Program is approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This means that the program follows the same regulations and guidelines as schools throughout the United States for nutrition and meal portions. School menus follow USDA nutritional requirements. Students who qualify under federal guidelines are provided free and reduced-price meals. Over 7 million meals are served annually in DoDEA schools in the United States and overseas.

The Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) provide student meals to students in kindergarten through 12th grade on Army and Air Force Installations throughout Europe and the Pacific. AAFES serves more than 24,000 meals daily in 92 schools for a total of 4.4 million meals each school year. The AAFES school meal program is approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and follows the same regulations, guidelines and nutritional requirements as schools throughout the United States. AAFES provides Free and Reduced-Price meals for students who qualify under Federal Guidelines.

The Student Meal Program in DoDEA schools in the United States is operated independently at each community by a Child Nutrition Director who oversees the cafeterias at each school within the community. The schools participate in the USDA National School Lunch Program receiving reimbursements for Free and Reduced Students as well as federal commodities.

For more information on the AAFES School Meal Program in Europe and the Pacific, visit http://odin.aafes.com/nutrition/08/index.html

For more information on your child’s school meal program, consult your school’s area office website.

Assessments and Student Performance

In support of a challenging curriculum, DoDEA continues to measure student performance with a variety of assessments, such as the TerraNova, the PSAT, and the SAT. At the end of the year parents received the scores for the TerraNova, and parents are encouraged to contact schools how these results are used this year and how they can help at home.

DoDEA average test results continue to show achievement above the national average in Reading, Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies in all grades tested. From 2009 to 2010 DoDEA scores have shown also show gains in most grades and subject areas.

DoDEA will participate this year in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the Nations Report Card, for 4th and 8th graders. The purpose of this nationwide test is to provide comparisons of student achievement in Reading, Math, Writing, and Science with national performance and the performance in each state of the nation.

All DoDEA schools will participate in the continuous school improvement process to ensure continued accreditation by a prestigious National Accreditation Institution. The accreditation process certifies that our schools adhere to challenging standards that support excellence in education of all students. This year more than 40 schools will receive visits from the accreditation agency to confirm excellence and continuous improvement of services for our students.

Initiatives for School Year 2010-2011

Virtual High School

Beginning in school year 2010-2011 DoDEA will unveil a vision for the future of online education with the opening of the DoDEA Virtual High School. Military dependent students can benefit from virtual courses because the flexibility that virtual school courses offer addresses their transition needs.

The DoDEA Virtual High School is a distance learning program that offers a wide array of fully accredited courses for students who are physically displaced, transitioning between schools or experiencing scheduling conflicts. The DoDEA Virtual High School offers 48 accredited courses. These courses cover the same subject matter and are measured by the same standards as traditional face-to-face courses. The difference is the flexibility and accessibility the virtual school offers.

For more information about the Virtual High School, visit http://www.dodea.edu/education/virtualSchool.cfm

Additional Kindergarten Classes In School Year 2010-2011, families will benefit from the addition of 54 Kindergarten classrooms to the DoDEA system. The additional classrooms are part of the second phase of efforts to reduce the pupil-to-teacher ratio to 18 students to one teacher in DoDEA’s Kindergarten classrooms around the world.

New English Language Arts Classroom Materials

Students in DoDEA’s English/Language Arts classes will be using new classroom materials this year. We are introducing the Reading Streets curriculum materials in grades Pre-K through 6, and students in grades 7 through 12 will use the Elements of Literature series. The introduction of these new resources aligns our English/Language Arts Program with the standards that were implemented last year.

Social Studies Classroom Materials

DoDEA is supplying new social studies textbooks and media resources for students in School Year 2010-2011. Supplementary on-line materials and CD ROMS will be available to students to use at home to enrich their classroom learning.

After School Activities

After school activities vary by school. DoDEA offers a full range of interscholastic athletics programs in our high schools. All schools offer a range of academic clubs and activities to address a wide variety of student interests. Check with your school to see specific availability for after-school activities.

DoDEA’s Educational Partnership

DoDEA’s Educational Partnership is devoted to assisting partnering local education schools and districts in providing a quality education for all military students. Approximately 92% (1.2 million) of children of military families do not attend DoDEA schools. The Educational Partnership is working collaboratively with the Department of Education to ease the transition of military children and provide resources to LEAs that educate military children.

The Educational Partnership is also focused on transforming the responsiveness of educators to support children with deployed parents. Continued support of resources will enable DoD to build the capacity to improve the social and emotional climate of schools as well as increase student achievement.

Educational Partnership Initiatives for School Year 2010-2011 include:

• The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military ChildrenThe Department of Defense working with the Council of State Governments’ National Center for Interstate Compacts developed the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. The Compact governs member states in several areas, including school placement, enrollment, records transfer, and graduation for children of active-duty military families. Currently, 35 states are members of the Compact.DoDEA to the extent permitted by law is committed to ensure that our school policies and procedures mirror those in the Compact guidelines, and related rules. An Interstate Commission comprised of representatives of the member states has been established. To ensure DoD remains in concert, and to assist in making the Compact an effective vehicle for all military children, DoDEA has been designated to represent the Department as an ex-officio member to the Interstate Commission.DoDEA Parents, School Principals and Counselors should become familiar with the provisions of the Compact assuring smooth transitions and supports students. DoDEA’s Educational Partnership branch will provide technical assistance in the implementation of the Compact rules adopted by the Interstate Commission.
• “Students at the Center”DoDEA’s Educational Partnership has developed ‘Students at the Center’, an educational resource to provide information to advocate for military connected students. This resource is now available on the web, http://www.militaryk12partners.dodea.edu/studentsAtTheCenter/. The guidebooks and DVD are available through Military OneSource.
• DoDEA’s Partnership with the Department of EducationThe Department of Defense and the Department of Education have a number of ongoing programs and efforts to support that all military-connected students receive an outstanding education, from “cradle through career”, while simultaneously addressing the unique challenges they face. This strategy is built on four key components: (1) ensuring that we have the data and research to enable us to best serve these students; (2) academic and other supports to ensure quality educational options for all; (3) social, emotional, and community supports to help address the stresses of military life; and (4) empowerment of the military and military families to serve as a source of ideas and strength for schools serving all children.

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