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Goal 8 of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Community Strategic Plan states: "By the year 2000, every school will promote partnerships that will increase parental involvement and participation in promoting the social, emotional, and academic growth of children." Goal 10 of the plan calls for building a shared decision-making process that includes representatives from all DoDEA constituencies to create an organizational infrastructure "to support and to enhance the teaching and learning process." DoDEA is implementing a multi-faceted school-home partnership and school improvement process which will move the organization toward these goals. DoDEA's efforts to maintain open communication with parents, communities, and military commands are ongoing.
In addition to the types of Parent-Teacher organizations and volunteer opportunities found in most civilian school districts, DoDEA provides the following means for parental participation, information, and input:
1. School Improvement Teams (SITS)--The school improvement process is a component of systemwide accountability for the DoDEA Community Strategic Plan. It is also used as a basis for the improvement process required by the school accreditation associations. Each school’s School Improvement Team is made up of representatives of all stakeholders: the principal, three teachers, two parents [one selected by the School Advisory Committee (DoDDS only) and one from members of the school’s PTSA/PTO/PTA], a representative of the military command, and a student from the Middle and/or High School Student Council. The School Improvement Teams are charged with soliciting input from all segments of the school community prior to developing the School Improvement Plan (SIP), monitoring the implementation of the plan, and keeping the community informed about the progress of the school improvement process. Parents are encouraged to follow the work of the team and to participate in the planning and evaluation process.
2. DoDDS School Advisory Committees (SACs) were created by Congress to provide community input on the operation of overseas schools. SACs are composed of locally elected parents, students, professional school employees, and military members who advise the school principal about all local school-related matters, to include budget execution, curriculum policies, and support functions. When two or more schools operate on a military installation, the Installation Advisory Committee (IAC) deals with issues generally related to facilities or logistical support provided by the military. Issues that are not resolved at the local level are elevated through a DoDDS chain of command to the Advisory Council for Dependent Education (ACDE) and through a military chain of command to the Dependents Education Council (DEC).
3. School Home Partnership (DoDDS) is designed to promote a collaborative relationship between families and school personnel to support and promote practices in the home and at school that improve children’s learning and performance. Key to improving this partnership is the appointment of a Key Communicators Team at each school made up of one teacher and one parent. The Key Communicators offer training for both parents and staff in raising the level of parent involvement and promoting home/school collaboration. Parents of DoDDS students had a major role in developing the types of training to be offered by Key Communicators and the DoDEA School Home Partnership Staff. (A detailed description of the School Home Partnership is provided in the next section.)
4. Panama School-Based Management (SBM) Pilot began in school year 1995-96 to increase local stakeholders’ role in making fiscal, logistics, education, manpower, personnel, and professional development decisions at their schools. Parents are represented on each local SBM committee. The basic idea behind SBM is a school will be most responsive to students’ needs if the people closest to the children are allowed to make decisions about the school. The pilot was scheduled to end at the end of the 1996-97 school year. After evaluation, a decision will be made as to whether the project should be continued.
5. DoD Domestic Dependent Elementary/Secondary Schools (DDESS) School Boards are authorized to "participate in the development and oversight of fiscal, personnel, and education policies, procedures, and programs for the schools." Board members are elected by the parents of children attending DoDDDESS schools. Boards hold monthly meetings open to the public. School boards may also submit formal appeals regarding decisions made by DoDDDESS headquarters.
6. Parent Surveys--DoDEA is currently developing a new survey tool that will go out to all stakeholders in the system. The parent portion will replace the biennial DoDDS Parent Report Card that was last conducted in spring, 1995. Another will be completed in 1998.
The School-Home Partnership (SHP) is the Department of Defense effort to get more parents and volunteers involved in public education. It is a collaboration between parents, educators, and community members, pooling their resources for the betterment of all students of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). DoDEA provides education to eligible military and civilian family members of the Department of Defense, from preschool through grade 12 at sites in the United States (65 schools in seven states) and overseas (170 schools and one community college in 14 countries).
SHP supports Benchmark 8.1, which outlines the implementation of Goal 8. DoDEA will implement and evaluate the effects of a SHP program which includes the following five tiers based on a model devised at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
DoDEA has developed a "Site-Based Self-Evaluation" instrument, using rubrics (e.g., 5 quality indicators), to establish baseline data and monitor the successful implementation of each tier. Key Communicators (parents and educators) also serve as advocates at the district and school levels to ensure the success of partnerships.
The following program descriptions offer illustrative examples of each of the five tiers. The examples given are for domestic schools. There are additional examples for overseas schools, which are contained in DoD document entitled Sample of "Best Practices" In celebration of "America Goes Back to School: `A Place for Families and the Community," September 1995.
Co-communicators:
Kingsolver Primary School, Fort Knox, Kentucky:
Phone Master Kick Off
Curundu Middle School, Panama:
Back-To-School Night
West Point School, New York:
When Parents Speak (Pilot)
Co-supporters
Robbins Air Force Base, Georgia:
Writing Assessment Assistants
Quantico Middle School, Virginia:
Accelerated Reader Program
Fort Rucker, Alabama:
PET (Promoting Excellence Together)
Fort Bragg Schools, North Carolina:
Volunteer Training Workshop
Covers an array of topics such as:
Co-learners
Fort Benning School, Georgia:
Parent Academy
Dahlgren School, Virginia
Parenting with Love and Logic
Co-teachers
Fort McClellan, Alabama:
AIMS (Activities Integrating Math and Science)
Barkley Elementary School, Fort Campbell, Kentucky:
Multi-Cultural Fine Arts Program
Pickney Elementary School, Fort Jackson, South Carolina:
Parents Helping Teachers For A Day
Russell Elementary School, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina:
Back Yard Book Club
Co-advisors, advocates, and decision makers
Fort Clayton, Elementary School, Panama District
Detention Plan
Goals (SBA Council)
Shortly after the release of "A Nation At Risk," the Chief of Naval Operations established the Personal Excellence Program as a program for Navy people to encourage continuing education, social responsibility, fitness, and sound mental and physical health. From the success of this program grew Navy Personal Excellence Partnerships, an "investment" program for America that allied Navy military and civilian volunteers with schools and youth organizations to encourage a healthy, smart, and socially responsible youth.
In 1992, Congress passed legislation that directed the Secretary of Defense to establish the Civil-Military Cooperative Action Program. This program allowed the Armed Forces to assist civilian efforts to meet the domestic needs of the United States. Its six objectives are:
Later that same year, the President signed an Executive Order facilitating federal employee’s participation in community service. It encouraged all employees, including members of the Armed Forces, to "participate voluntarily in direct and consequential community service." Resulting policy guidance from the Office of Personnel Management provided further impetus for volunteerism among federal employees by providing some work hour flexibility and recognition for volunteers.
Galvanized by these new initiatives, the Navy launched its Community Service Program to encourage and expand involvement of Navy volunteer in the communities in which they live. The goal of this "umbrella" program is to promote voluntarism and community service in Navy people--officers and enlisted, civilian and military, men women--whether it is with on one of the Navy's Flagships or outside the military.
The Navy sponsors five Flagships that promote health, education, environmental conservation, and humanitarianism in the community. They are:
What follows is a brief description of each of these programs:
Personal Excellence Partnerships
The Personal Excellence Partnership Flagship, sponsored by the Bureau of Naval Personnel, is a collaborative effort among Navy commands, public and/or private sector organizations, and schools and youth groups. Its purpose is to assist America's youth, from preschool through high school, to become better educated, healthier and more responsible citizens. Navy people--including military, civilians and family members--volunteer their time to tutor, encourage and mentor young people in reading, writing, math, science, citizenship and a myriad of other skills to help them achieve excellence. In return, volunteers acquire leadership skills and learn about today’s schools so that they may tutor and mentor their own "next generation." More than 1,000 Navy/youth education partnerships exist involving 14,000 volunteers and nearly 150,000 young people. Some specific partnership activities include: Adopt-A-School or Class; Saturday Scholars; Navy Kids; Science Fair Sponsorships; One-on-one tutoring; Career education and orientation events. Contact:
Personal Excellence Partnerships
Bureau of Naval Personnel (PERS 6CSP)
2 Navy Annex
Washington, DC 20370-6030
DSN: 224-1290
Com: (703) 614-1290
Fax: (703) 614-5582
Sharing Thanksgiving
Sharing Thanksgiving, sponsored by the Chief of Chaplains of the Navy, is a collaborative effort with public and private organizations to encourage Navy men and women to share their bounty. Navy people, both military and civilian, participate in local, national and international relief efforts to extend helping hands to disadvantaged families and members of the community. The Flagship promotes community outreach activities throughout the year to establish and restore hope to the homeless, the hungry, the homebound, the sick and elderly. It also provides a valuable lesson in caring, generosity, and human dignity. Volunteers have participated in food drives, meal delivery to homeless people, housing repairs for the poor, and literally thousands of other community service activities. Some of the organizations Navy people have volunteered with in support of Sharing Thanksgiving include: Habitat for Humanity; Salvation Army; Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society; Orphanages; Disabled American Veterans; Soup Kitchens; American Red Cross.
Sharing Thanksgiving
Chief of Chaplains (N097)
Department of the Navy
2 Navy Annex
Washington, DC 20370-0131
DSN: 224-4436
Com: (703) 614-4436
Fax: (703) 693-5408
Youth Health & Physical Fitness
The Youth Health and Physical Fitness Flagship, sponsored by the Chief of Naval Education and Training, concentrates on the health and well-being of the whole child. Building on the belief that, "Growing up healthy is just as important as growing up smart," this Flagship’s objective is to "plant a seed" among America’s youth to encourage them to lead healthy, active lives from an early age. One example of this program is the Schools with Active Fitness Education (SAFE), which provides young people the leadership and "tools" they need to improve and maintain their fitness and health for life with physical training. It targets students from the fifth grade through high school, but is most effective for middle school students. Other aspects include lectures and practical training in nutrition, hygiene, mental health, disease prevention, and personal safety. Navy volunteers provide instruction and mentoring to augment the health and physical education classes offered in schools. Commands also sponsor recreational health and fitness events for schools, such as Special Olympics, jump rope competitions, and safety and health fairs.
Youth Health and Fitness
Chief of Naval Education and Training (OOK)
250 Dallas Street
Pensacola, FL 32580
DSN: 922-4837
Com: (904) 452-4837
Fax: (904) 452-3145
Campaign Drug Free
Campaign Drug Free (CDF), sponsored by the Director of the Naval Reserve, is a drug education project that delivers a simple message: "If you want to be a success, don’t use drugs." CDF is a resource available to schools, organizations, and communities that provides speakers and education materials about the dangers of drug abuse and the importance of being drug free. Volunteer teams of Naval and Marine Corps Reservists use specially prepared and age-targeted videotapes to convey an anti-drug message to elementary, middle, and high school students. Following the videotape presentations, Reservists discuss with the audience the challenges of taking charge of their lives and establishing self-control. Posters, brochures, and public service announcements provided by CDF reinforce the anti-drug abuse message. Some of the organizations that have worked with CDF to help them get their anti-drug message to youth include; Walt Disney Productions, New England Bell Telephone, Boston Bruins Hockey Team, Brigham and Women’s Hospital of Boston, and The American Dream Foundation. Contact:
Campaign Drug Free
Director of Naval Reserve
Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (N095)
Department of the Navy
Washington, DC 22350-2000
DSN: 225-5588
Com: (703) 695-5588
Fax: (703) 695-3357
Environmental Conservation
The Environmental Conservation Flagship, sponsored by the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations and Logistics, is an initiative to encourage Navy commands to join with their local communities in efforts that preserve and restore natural resources. The Navy, in cooperation with community and natural resource organizations, has established partnerships with schools and neighborhoods as well as private, state and federal conservation organizations to promote two aspects of environmental conservation: environmental education for young people and good stewardship of America’s natural resources. Navy experts in engineering, mathematics, oceanography and other sciences use environmental conservation projects to take "book learning" into the "real world" and share their knowledge and experience with young people and their families. One such project, USS My School, teaches students a variety of lessons using an inter-disciplinary approach that encourages students to become creative problem solvers. Students hone their skills while solving a real life environmental problem--disposal of marine debris, a special concern for Navy people. Mainly Green in Maine, Water for Life in Bangor, Washington, and Save the Bay in the Chesapeake area are other environmental education and cleanup programs that involve Navy volunteers. Some organizations working with the Environmental Conservation Flagship include: the Center for Marine Conservation, Student Conservation Association, the Nature Conservancy, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Main Audobon Society. Contact:
Environmental Conservation
Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Logistics
Shore Compliance Branch (N457)
Crystal Plaza #5, RM 678
Department of the Navy
Washington, DC 22244-5108
DSN: 332-5331
Com: (703) 602-5331
Fax: (703) 602-5547
Volunteerism is a grass roots initiative. It starts with individuals helping neighbors, grows to Commands assisting neighborhoods, and culminates in Navy people serving America not only as defenders of freedom but as community activists. With a potential force of nearly 750,000 uniformed and civilian men and women, the opportunity for Navy people to make a difference in America’s communities with voluntarism is nearly unlimited.
The Navy Community Service Program office at the Bureau of Naval Personnel provides guidance and information via instructions, naval messages, conferences, publications--including a quarterly newsletter, Community Service News-- and BUPERS Access on-line computer service. It also networks with other organizations to facilitate cooperative community service efforts. The Community Service Program office telephone number is (703) 614-1290, DSN 224-1290. Fax (703) 614-5582.
Throughout the world there are Navy Community Service coordinators who help commands get involved in their communities and match volunteers with local community service programs. To locate the area coordinator nearest you, refer to the Community Service Program bulletin board in BUPERS Access or call the Community Service Program office.
The United States Marine Corps is involved in locally sponsored tutoring and mentoring programs that interact with public schools at the majority of Marine Corps installations. Sponsorship of these programs is not centralized and varies between base education offices, Family Service Centers, Public Affairs Offices, Chaplains, base libraries, and individual units. The nature of the programs offered include tutoring in academic studies, serving as adult role models, highlighting career opportunities, drug awareness/avoidance, and instruction on personal hygiene.
Based on the reported information, the installation level tutoring/literacy and mentoring programs currently serves 20,868 students annually with 27 programs. Of this total, 15 of these programs deal mostly with tutoring and literacy, serving 14,626 students. These figures do not include the tutoring programs offered through the installation School Age Child Care (SACC) programs, the Department of Defense Dependents Education School System (DDESS), or the Young Marines Program.
The Young Marines Program is a mentoring program sponsored by the Marine Corps League. This program targets children, ages 8 through 18, and focuses on drug awareness and reduction of drug usage. There are currently 6,226 children involved in the program and 957 adult volunteers (Marine and civilian) working with the program (as of February, 1997).
The Marine Corps Youth Foundation sponsors the Maring Corps Youth Physical Fitness Program. This is a nationwide program that challenges students in grades kindergarten through high school to keep physically fit. Schools register for the program through the Marine Corps Youth Foundation and local recruiting stations. Although the Marine Corps Youth Foundation does not statistically track the participating schools, several thousand schools throughout the nation participate in the program.
For information about specific programs, contact:
Joyce Larson
Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps
Voluntary Off-Duty Education
3033 Wilson Boulevard, Room 311
Clarendon Square Building
Arlington, VA 20380-0001
(703) 696-2044
Fax: (703) 696-0249
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[Drug Abuse Prevention]