Interstate compact for military students is closer to acceptance
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Washington will become the 15th state to join an interstate
compact working to ease transitions between schools for military
kids.
Legislation passed the House on Monday; it was unanimously approved
by the Senate back in March. Rep. Christine Rolfes, D-23rd, who has
been working on the issue, said the measure must go back to the
Senate on a small formality and it should be on Gov. Gregoire’s
desk by next week.
Back in November 2008 I wrote a story about the compact and what it
will try to do to help military kids settle into new schools
easily. The legislation approved by Washington leaders basically
does what the task force recommended.
It wasn’t so simple last year. The compact legislation came before
legislators, but they opted to put together a task force to study
it.
“It was difficult last year because there was a lot of concern
about how it would impact school districts and what issues need to
be addressed. The task force worked through those issues,” said
Rolfes. This year, the bill passed unanimously in both houses.
“There is tremendous support for the military families” among
legislators, said Rolfes. “The Legislature of the state of
Washington is very aware of the sacrifices that these families are
making.” The Legislature is also set to approve a resolution at the
end of this week expressing support for military families and
children, she added.
However, putting the recommendations about school records, class
placement, participation in extra-curriculars etc. to work won’t be
that easy. I asked Rolfes on Tuesday whether military families
would be able to use the new legislation for the 2009-10 school
year. Nope.
Basically, the new law gives Washington a place at the table to
talk with other states about the compact and hammer out agreements.
The changes will take place slowly, over time. Military families
who want to know what the status of the compact is should check
with their local schools and base liaisons, said Rolfes.
The compact will cost the state some money. Washington must pay $1
annually for each of its 30,000 or so military students. In this
budget crisis, I asked Rolfes if that would be a sticking
point. It’s never a done deal, until, well it’s a done deal, she
said. But, legislators have agreed that in the end the compact will
save school districts money when dealing with these transfer
students, Rolfes said, who was confident the compact legislation
would survive the budget.
To get more information than you ever wanted about the compact
check out this link.
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
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