Students from military families are often misunderstood in US public schools – a retired military officer and behavioral health expert explains what schools can do

More than 1.4 million children had a military parent or caregiver in 2024, with over 90% attending public schools rather than the roughly 67,000 in Department of Defense schools. A retired Army lieutenant colonel and behavioral health expert writes that because only 6% of Americans have served, many educators misunderstand the challenges these children face, including moving an average of six to nine times between kindergarten and 12th grade.

Research cited finds military-connected students are more likely to be disengaged in school and repeat a grade than civilian peers, with effects varying by age: young children may act out behaviorally, preteens may show anger or anxiety, and teenagers face heightened risk of depression and suicide during deployments. The author's own 2019 research found military adolescents had frequent emergency room visits for substance use during the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

The piece recommends schools identify military-connected students at enrollment, train staff on military family life, and offer brief counselor check-ins during transitions. It notes some states offer a Purple Star School designation for schools that commit to supporting these students, and that effects of military life persist even after a parent leaves service, with 2.3 million children living with a disabled veteran parent.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.