Recent Education Initiatives in the Department of State

Summary

The Office of Overseas Schools  (A/OPR/OS), the Office of Allowances (A/OPR/ALS), and the Family Liaison Office (M/DGHR/FLO), in consultation with the Office of the Legal Adviser, have cooperated to bring you a number of new educational initiatives for USG school-age dependents abroad. We are proud of the record of success that our students achieve overseas and we want to do everything we can to strengthen the support that we provide to their educational opportunities. This cable provides information about these initiatives.  We encourage posts to take maximum advantage of the new benefits. Please contact the Office of Overseas Schools, the Office of Allowances, or the Family Liaison Office if you have any questions. 

AOL@School

A/OPR/OS has entered into a partnership with America Online, Inc. (http://www.school.aol.com), which provides overseas schools assisted by the Department of State all the features and software of the standard AOL@School service at no cost.  In addition, through the coded software, A/OPR/OS provides educational content specifically intended for American-sponsored overseas schools, including calendar of events, in-service training opportunities, regional association activities, services available through other  organizations assisted by A/OPR/OS, and information pertinent to improving educational opportunities overseas. Moreover, the participating schools receive free email accounts for all faculty and students and the ability to communicate directly with each other through networked software.  If the Department-assisted school at your post is interested in participating in AOL@School, please contact the Office of Overseas Schools.

Virtual School Project

A/OPR/OS developed a virtual school project in conjunction with the staff and students of the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax County, Virginia.  The Virtual School software permits overseas schools to put their programs on the Internet and communicate with their students anywhere in the world.  The first school to use the program was the International School of Islamabad.  Last year's ordered departure of Islamabad provided the first opportunity to test  this program, and several returning USG dependents elected to continue their studies using the ISOI virtual school program. Building on the experiences and success of the ISOI virtual school experience, five new schools were added this year in the Near East/South Asia region.  The Walworth Barbour American International School in Israel used its virtual school to maintain communication with students and their families during the recent evacuation of Israel.

Thanks to changes in the Department of State Standardized Regulations (DSSR), which took effect March 23, 2003, evacuated families may now be reimbursed for expenses associated with the internet classroom up to the "school at post" education allowance maximum (DSSR 621.1 d1). Permitted expenses include charges by the school for the service, and connectivity charges in the U.S. for internet classroom-related activities.

While setting up a virtual school takes up to 18 months, the initial results are very encouraging. The Office of Overseas Schools will continue to encourage and assist other schools to participate in the virtual school program.

Meeting with Washington Metropolitan Area Superintendents

In February 2003, the Office of Overseas Schools and the Director of the Family Liaison Office met with Washington Metropolitan Area superintendents to discuss the evacuation of substantial numbers of diplomatic personnel and its impact on area schools. The superintendents agreed, to the extent possible, to adjust registration procedures to accommodate USG dependent children who live in temporary housing or with relatives until parents can make longer-term arrangements.  The Family Liaison Office has also embarked on an extensive outreach effort with local school systems to raise awareness of and sensitivity to the needs of Foreign Service children upon their return to the Washington area especially during evacuations. This effort is supported through presentations, personal meetings, and web-based informational materials. Both FLO and A/OPR/OS welcome the opportunity to provide advice and assistance to evacuees, as well as other returning students.

Payment for AP and IB Exam Fees.

 The Standardized Regulations were recently amended to allow an employee to claim full expenses for Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) examination fees for eligible family member (EFM) students.  These costs are paid in addition to the education allowance (DSSR 271.i).

Gifted and Talented Supplementary Allowance

The Standardized Regulations were recently amended to authorize employees to receive  supplementary funds so that EFM students may participate in Gifted and Talented (GT) programs not offered by the "school at post" (DSSR 276.9e ).  To qualify for supplementary education funding, the employee must demonstrate one of the following: (1) a letter from the student's previous school stating that the student is qualified for and participated in a GT program; or (2) a letter from the student's current school certifying that the student's performance qualifies for a GT program that the school cannot provide; or (3) the results of a standardized GT test(s) that demonstrate that the student is eligible to participate in a GT program.

The GT allowance can be used in several ways, such as: a) pooling resources into a weekend or after school program, as long as each student qualifies for the Gifted and Talented allowance. b) tutoring accelerated course materials, deeper exploration of single subject matter. c) distance learning courses. d) private lessons in the form of private tutoring. The allowance does not extend to physical education or the arts.

The new allowance may not be used for existing school programs since the prerequisite to qualify is that the school at post has no GT program.  Existing school GT programs should be covered under the normal school at post education allowance.  We also recommend that the supplementary activities not take place  on the school campus to avoid the appearance of the program or activity being sponsored by the school. Please see DSSR 276.9 for examples of allowable and non-allowable expenses.

Supplementary Allowance for Tutoring Evacuated Children on
Return to Post

A new category of Special Supplementary Allowance (DSSR 276.9) allows for tutoring of an evacuated child on return to post in order to catch up with peers in the base school.  To qualify for this allowance, the school at post must document that a child returning to post following authorized/ordered departure requires additional instruction to successfully complete the current school year.

Homeschooling Expenses

In the spring of 2002, Assistant Secretary William A. Eaton convened the Home Study Working Group to develop a more comprehensive policy regarding homeschooling. The Home Study Working Group also provided input into the Hardship Incentives Working Group convened in October 2002. Both working groups solicited input from homeschooling parents in developing new
regulations on home study. The goal was to provide maximum flexibility to homeschooling parents within the confines of legal limitations.  Please see DSSR 277.3 and DSSR 277.3b.

Please note that employees must demonstrate that the home study and private instruction undertaken by the EFM student enables the student to reintegrate successfully into the U.S. public education system.  This documentation can be receipts for enrollment of the student in a recognized home study course as offered by the Calvert School or the University of Nebraska.  If USG parents design their own homeschooling programs, not relying on an authorized home study course, they must show that they have met the requirements of an appropriate state or they may request the Office of Overseas Schools to arrange for the Fairfax County Public Schools to examine and approve their individual homeschooling program.

"Away from Post" education allowance

Changes affecting "school away from post" allowances and benefits include the following:Employees are authorized to receive the maximum "school atpost" grant should they decide to send the EFM student to a "school away from post," even though the Department has deemed the "school at post" adequate (DSSR 272.2).  A student residing at a post with an adequate school and no "away from post" allowance can nevertheless use the "school at post" allowance to defray the cost of boarding school or other "away from post" options.  Remaining expenses will still be covered by the family.

A student who attends school while on the "away from post" education allowance, but who lives off-campus in a private residential or non-dormitory facility can now be reimbursed for one round trip per day to commute between lodgings and school.  Please see DSSR 277.2c(2).

Storage of Personal Effects Over the Summer

Students on educational travel may now store their personal baggage rather than shipping it to and from post as long as the storage charges do not exceed the cost of shipping the unaccompanied baggage. Please note that this ONLY applies to students on educational travel, not those on "away from post" education allowance.  We currently have no legal authority to pay for UAB for students at boarding school utilizing the away from post education allowance (DSSR 285.1).

Transitional Separate Maintenance Allowance

The creation of a new category of Separate Maintenance Allowance (SMA) called Transitional Separation Maintenance Allowance (TSMA) provides increased benefits for EFMs in commercial housing so that children may complete the final semester of the current school year after an evacuation ends and EFMs can return to post; (DSSR 264.3).  Examples of commercial housing include hotels, motels, commercially leased houses, or other transient-type commercial establishments.  TSMA may be granted for a period of up to 90 days after the termination of an evacuation.  Family members in non-commercial housing (for example, staying with family or friends) who want to complete the school year after an evacuation ends may elect voluntary SMA.  However in the case of both voluntary SMA and TSMA for educational purposes, EFMs may not return to post during the final 90 days of the employee's tour of duty.

In summary, the Office of Overseas Schools, the Office of Allowances and the Family Liaison Office continue to collaborate on ways to improve educational benefits and opportunities for family members overseas. Post Management can help by meeting periodically with local school officials to discuss issues of interest to the official USG community, encouraging embassy employees and family members to run for election to the local school board, assuring that the Ambassador has appointed a representative to the board where possible, and promoting an increased awareness of security issues with school officials. Working together, we can make a difference.  Please contact A/OPR/OS, A/OPR/ALS, and M/DG/FLO if you have any questions, suggestions or comments.

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Released by the Office of Overseas Schools based on a cable of June 18, 2003.