School-Age Directory (3-21)
Relocating to a new assignment and community can be exciting but also challenging, particularly for military families with children with special needs. The School-Age Directory will help you experience a smooth transition by providing practical suggestions and information about special education services. Included are:
- Descriptions of each state's special education system and related resources
- School district profiles and contact information
- Tools for helping you and your child make the transition to a new school district
- Links to national resource agencies
- Summaries of national special education service trends
Services for children identified with autism spectrum disorders, emotional/behavior disorders and intellectual disabilities are emphasized. However, the suggestions and tools included here will assist all families with children with special needs transferring to any domestic location. The directory supplements information available at Military OneSource's Exceptional Family Member Program page.
Suggested use of the directory
The directory is organized to help you quickly obtain the information you need to make decisions for your child with special needs and enable you to:
- Identify and learn about the school districts that serve domestic military installations
- Review the special education systems and resources in each of the 50 states
- Use the Tools for Making a Smooth Transition to minimize the impact of relocation
- Understand national issues facing special education in general and autism spectrum disorders, emotional/behavior disorders and intellectual disabilities specifically
- Access additional resources, including those specifically designed for military families
Limitations on use of the directory
When using the directory, please keep in mind that:
- Although accuracy is a priority, the most current information will come from contacting the new district directly. Tools to assist you are provided in the Tools for Making a Smooth Transition section.
- The interventions listed in the school district profiles only describe services they are currently providing and do not guarantee a child will receive a particular intervention. Services are individually determined by the individualized education program team, including the child's parents.