School Liaison Service assists with a smooth transition during moves

11 Feb. 2011 -- Being an Airman requires moving around and being ready to go just about anywhere at any time, in order to successfully accomplish the Air Force mission.

Moving frequently is not always a simple task, especially for the children of the Airmen. It's not always easy to pick up where you left off at a previous school.

The School Liaison Service is on every base throughout all branches of the military. They help with the transitioning of schools.

This service supports families with many resources, information and partnership to help ease the impact of the Air Force and military's mobile
lifestyle.

The school liaison officer helps with registration in the local school system, giving points of contact within the school district and community, providing information about each school so the parent can choose the best fit for their child. The officer also helps home school families.

"As the school liaison officer I help families from all over find the right school and right environment for their children. Our local school district and Patrick Air Force Base have a really good connection and work well together," said Salvatore Noto, 45th Space Wing School Liaison Officer/Community Readiness Consultant, Airman and Family Readiness Center.

This service gives information on different clubs and programs the child can participate in, creating work force preparation, and also supplying post-secondary education information.

Most states, Florida being one of them, have an interstate compact agreement, which also benefit the youth.

The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children is a cooperative effort among states to address some of the administrative challenges military children face when moving to a new school.

This agreement helps to speed up the process of school record and transcript
exchange.

To be in accordance to the agreement transcripts and records must arrive at the new school within 10 days of request. It also helps the child to stay on track with a
specific graduation date and course placement in honors classes; school records differ this agreement is to ensure that the child stays on the right path.

"The interstate compact agreement also helps children to get another chance to try-out for a club or sport if they missed try-outs because of moving around," said Salvatore Noto.

"We do what we do to help not only the children transition, but so that our Airmen can do their job without worrying about their family."

Editor's Note:
For more information on the School Liaison Office, please call Salvatore Noto, 494-5675.