Because military families are often expected to live abroad in areas where quality schools may be dificult to find, the Department of Defense (DoD) is required to provide the opportunity for military dependents to get a quality education. This benefit is available for minor dependents of U.S. active duty military and DoD civilian personnel stationed abroad. DoD dependent's schools are established and staffed by highly qualified teachers and administrators.
The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) is the civilian agency of the U.S. Department of Defense that operates these DoD schools. DoDEA It is headed by a director who oversees all agency functions from DoDEA headquarters in Arlington,Virginia. DoDEA's schools are divided into three areas, each of which is managed by an area director. Within each of these three areas, schools are organized into districts headed by superintendents.
Sponsors who have assignments to areas where there are no Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools may be allowed to have tuition paid for their dependents to attend private schools, however they must gain approval from the appropriate DoDEA area superintendent prior to paying tuition or enrolling a dependent in a non-DoD school. There are no provisions for reimbursing funds which have been paid for by individuals for education in a private school or for correspondence courses. Where neither a DoD dependents' school nor a private school is available, accredited correspondence courses are provided at no expense to the family, however, application for such education must be made through appropriate channels.
Minor dependents living in an area where there are no DoDEA schools also have the option of attending the DoDEA dormitory school offering classes for grades 9 through 12. There is no tuition charge for students of service personnel or DoD employees who are paid from appropriated funds.
The only location where the seven day school is operated is London, England. Students attending this school get at least two free air trips home a year.
DoD Schools usually are not provided in such places as China, Africa, Central and South America, although Americans, such as Marine guards for embassies, may be stationed there. In some areas where there are no DoDEA schools, there are State Department operated schools that dependents of military personnel may attend. The DoD pays the tuition for its dependents to attend private American-sponsored schools. These are the same schools that State Department dependents attend. Dependents may take correspondence courses offered through major educational institutions and administered by DoDEA officials.
For more information visit the DODEA Schools website.
For more information about other, non-DoD overseas American-sponsored elementary and secondary schools assisted by the U.S. Department of State contact:
Office of Overseas Schools
U.S. Department of State
Room H328, SA-1
Washington,
D. C. 20522-0132
Phone: (202) 261-8200
Fax: (202) 261-8224
E-mail: OverseasSchools@state.gov
