MCS endorses Month of the Military Child
MADISON – Madison City Schools endorses the designation of April as “Month of the Military Child.” The district recognizes and appreciates the children in military families for their service and sacrifice.
“Military children live with on-going challenges presented by frequent moves, family separations and life transitions,” Susan Connolly said. Connolly works with the Military Child Education Coalition.
Children in military families “move six to nine times during their K-12 years. In their own way, military-connected children serve, too,” Connolly said.
The Military Child Education Coalition encourages efforts that strengthen the daily lives of military children and confirm that opportunities exist for their quality education.
“As a demographic, military-connected children number almost 4 million — 75 percent of whom are school-age,” Connolly said. “Almost every school district in America includes military-connected children and youth whose parents serve or served in the Active, Guard, and Reserve components of the Armed Forces.”
More than 80 percent of these students attend U.S. public schools. Less than eight percent attend Department of Defense schools.
Madison City Schools and other districts in Madison County support the work of the Military Child Education Coalition. Fundraising events help to provide training in North Alabama.
In addition, the coalition offers S2S training for teenagers in high school, JS2S (Junior Student2Student) training for junior high students and sponsors, along with ES2S (Elementary Student2Student) training.
Student2Student members quickly bring relevant information to transitioning students from a credible source — another student. They establish a peer relationship, helping students to gain greater confidence, enhance their comfort level and increase well-being while they adjust.
The Military Child Education Coalition addresses the needs of military-connected children through programs, services and resources designed to enlighten and empower parents, educators, other supportive adults and the students themselves. The well-being of all military-connected children and youth depends on a strong, consistent network of supportive adults.
The coalition invites the public to wear purple on April 18 as a visible gesture of support for military kids. The organization encourages financial support for its endeavors to transition military-connected students to become ready for college and the workforce.
The Military Child Education Coalition is a 501(c)3 global, nonprofit organization focused exclusively on the well-being and needs of America’s approximately 4 million military-connected children.
To learn more, visit MilitaryChild.org.
