Joint Base Charleston  Education

There are several resources available to help military families with the transition to schools overseas.

• Your installation school liaison office offers a wide array of transition support for children grades pre-K through 12. School liaisons can provide information about local schools, help with transferring credits and registering for classes, provide tutoring and youth sponsorship referrals, and more. If your family has special needs, your school liaison can connect you with your installation Exceptional Family Member Program and help you navigate your school’s special education program.
• Military OneSource education consultants are available 24/7 from anywhere in the world. They can provide information on local education options, refer you to education services that best meet your needs and connect you to a wide variety of community resources. Call 800-342-9647, use OCONUS calling options, or schedule a live chat.
• The Department of Defense Education Activity, or DODEA, operates 160 schools worldwide. Learn more about what schools are available to children on military installations. Visit the DODEA website to search for your school by region.
• Your installation’s Exceptional Family Member Program, or EFMP, provides support for family’s with special needs.
  • All overseas PCSs include screenings for all family members which are completed prior to finalizing an assignment. If a family member presents with a special medical or educational need, the coordination with EFMP begins.
  • The educational screening determines whether or not there are similar education services available in the new location. The screening includes completion of paperwork by you and your child’s school. A copy of your child’s current IEP is also required so it is very important that your child’s current IEP accurately reflects his/her needs.
  • Learn more about EFMP family support and special needs resources.

The Department of Defense Education Activity operates schools in 11 foreign countries, Guam and Puerto Rico. DODEA school districts are accredited by U.S. accreditation agencies and maintain high academic standards.

DODEA's student eligibility and preregistration system helps streamline the registration process and allows school officials to better predict school enrollment, make informed decisions regarding teacher and staff requirements, and prepare for special services and supplies. Parents can preregister their children by visiting DODEA Online Registration for Students.

Non-DODEA Schools Program, or NDSP

In international locations where there is no DODEA school, the DODEA provides educational support and financial assistance to defray education costs and help ensure educational continuity through the Non-DOD Schools Program, or NDSP. Command-sponsored school-age dependents of DOD sponsors assigned overseas where a school operated by the DOD is not reasonably available are eligible to apply to the NDSP.

There are many important decisions that coincide with a transition to an overseas assignment without a DODEA school. DODEA NDSP does not approve or certify schools. Families choose the education option that is appropriate for their child. Visit the following websites for more information:

• NDSP School Interactive Map –  A tool to assist with locating schools at your assigned duty station. The listing is not all inclusive.
• U.S. Department of State Office of Overseas Schools – See their “Resources” menu for information about child mental health resources, homeschooling, boarding schools, a Foreign Service Assignment Notebook and more.

Parents have the right to choose the educational setting for their child, with authorization up to the NDSP education allowance rate for that location and educational option. For first-time family registration or if adding a new dependent, register with the NDSP by using the NDSP Student Online Registration system.

Start planning for a successful school transition as soon as you learn about your move – the more your child knows about the new location and school, the more confident your child will feel. Learn more about helping your children change schools.

Your installation school liaison office provides an array of transition support for children grades pre-K through 12. School liaisons can provide information about local schools, help with transferring credits and registering for classes, provide tutoring and youth sponsorship referrals, and much more.