Gov. Signs Order to Help Local Military Children
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Coming down to his last days in office, Governor Don Carcieri signed an Executive Order Tuesday creating the Rhode Island State Council on Educational Opportunities for Military Children, establishing the state’s participation in an Interstate Compact to help children of military families. Statistics show that the average military student faces transition challenges more than twice during high school and most military children will have six to nine different school systems in their lives from kindergarten to 12th grade.
Order Afids Thousands of Local Families
Carcieri acknowledged the commitment of those who serve in uniform and the need for states to support military families. “There are more than 3,400 children of military families going to school in Rhode Island,” he said, with education and military officials by his side. “We owe the families of the brave men and women who serve this nation our deepest gratitude and respect. Serving in the military is a hardship for families, and the possibility of frequent moves and deployment of parents can be particularly stressful on children, potentially affecting their educational experience. It is critical that we provide these children the tools and the support they need to succeed in and out of school, no matter if they reside in Rhode Island or any other state in the country.”
Captain Joseph Voboril, Commanding Officer, Naval Station Newport, added, “As the commanding officer for Naval Station Newport, and the father of two boys, I truly appreciate what this Compact means to those of us who relocate our families every two or three years. Men and women in harm’s way need to have the confidence that their families are being supported both by the military and their families.”
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe Compact was developed by the Council of State Governments' National Center for Interstate Compacts, the Department of Defense, national associations, federal and state officials, and departments of education, school administrators, and military families. Rhode Island was the 35th State to sign the compact.
Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of Defense
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