House approves Rolfes bill reducing barriers for military families

March 5, 2009

OLYMPIA – The state House of Representatives this evening unanimously passed a bill to streamline the school transfer process for children in military families. Introduced by Rep. Christine Rolfes (D-Bainbridge Island), House Bill 1075 would authorize Washington state to join the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, the emerging national standard in reducing the burdens associated with transferring schools as often as military families do.
 
“The average length of duty in one location is just two to three years, meaning military children will transfer schools several times. Trying to coordinate several different sets of records, graduation requirements, grade-level discrepancies and more can be a mess,” Rolfes said. “By joining the national standards outlined in this compact, Washington is taking a bold step toward supporting military families and their unique situation.”
 
Since December 2007, the compact has been introduced in 32 states. Eleven states have adopted it, and others are considering it, like Washington. If Rolfes’ bill becomes law, the state’s participation in the compact will ensure such things as easy access to educational records, continuation at the same grade level, access to similar special courses (such as honors or English as a second language) and participation in extracurricular activities.
 
Rolfes’ bill also creates a state council to monitor participation and compliance with the compact. The council will review the implementation process in Washington and report back to the Legislature in five years whether it recommends continued participation in the compact.
 
The legislation passed the House 96-0 today, and now goes to the Senate for consideration. For more information on the bill, click here.
 
Nearly 30,000 military children live in Washington, the nation’s seventh-largest such population.