News Release

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 24, 2007
Contact: Frank O’Gara and Elaine Kanellis
Voice: (703) 588-3260/3265
Email: frank.ogara@hq.dodea.edu and elaine.kanellis@hq.dodea.edu

DoDEA to Discontinue Remote Home School Program in School Year 2007-2008

ARLINGTON, VA — The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) today announced it will discontinue its Remote Home School Program beginning in School Year 2007-2008 because of the expiration of funding allocations and grants for the program.

"We understand this unique program is valued by our families," said DoDEA Director, Dr. Joseph D. Tafoya. "Unfortunately, with the funding allocation and grants expiring for this program at the end of school year 2006-2007, we will have to discontinue the Remote Location Home Schooling Program.

"The purpose of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) is to plan, direct, coordinate, and manage the education programs for Department of Defense (DoD) dependents who would otherwise not have access to a high-quality public education. Although operating a home schooling program is outside of its directed mission, DoDEA has administered The Remote Home School Program since school year 2001-2002, when it received the first in a series of unsolicited allocations and grants to support the program. DoDEA cannot continue administering the program with the funding authorizations and grants expiring and by law, DoDEA is not permitted to lobby for funds to continue operating the Remote Location Home Schooling Program.

"We truly regret the disruption this may cause students and families," said Dr. Tafoya. "We do not take this decision lightly – it is the result of careful analysis of the needs of our directed mission."

DoDEA will assist students and families in any way possible in transitioning from the Remote Home Schooling Program. Based on their home location, students and families may choose to enroll in the locally-DoDEA-administered school or local public school. They may also choose to attend a private school or choose to participate in a Home Schooling Program of their choice at their expense.

DoDEA Home Schooling/2-2-2

The DoDEA Remote Home Schooling Program has been operating since 2001 when Congress included a plus-up to the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Defense-Wide account (FYs 2001-2004).

This Release in Acrobat Format (.pdf)

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