Expanded Eligibility Enrollment Option

Expanded Eligibility Enrollment option for off-base children (formerly Pilot Program)

To attend a Department of Defense Education Activity school in the contiguous United States, a student’s parent or guardian must 1) be a full-time, active-duty service member or full-time Department of Defense civilian employee and 2) reside in permanent on-base housing at an installation where DoDEA operates schools.

Congress authorized the Expanded Eligibility Enrollment option through the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, allowing for the children of full-time, active-duty military who reside off the military installation to attend a DoDEA brick-and-mortar school, provided space is available. The Expanded Eligibility Enrollment option specifically addresses military and family readiness. Only students who are dependents of a full-time, active-duty service member with assignment orders to the selected installation are eligible for enrollment.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this option, students selected to participate must be a dependent of a full-time, active-duty service member with orders to Fort Jackson. The priorities for new student applicants under the Expanded Eligibility Enrollment option are:

• Returning students (Enrolled in the Expanded Eligibility Enrollment option in the previous school year).
• Siblings of students enrolled under the Expanded Eligibility Enrollment option.
• Service member’s position and family status; high to low priority rankings (in order) are: Drill Sergeants (Single Parent), Drill Sergeants (Dual/Married), Active Duty (Single Parent), Dual Military (1 Drill Sergeant), Dual Military, Drill Sergeant with working spouse, Active Duty with working spouse, Active Duty all others.

There are other factors that affect which students are selected for enrollment. For example, school administrators will determine capacity at a specific grade level or if enrollment of students on a part-time basis is available. This availability also may change from year to year. Where two or more students qualify in the same category and grade, the student who submitted the first application will be accepted.

How to Enroll

• Fill out an application for each student you want to enroll.
• The application portal opens April 1 at 8:00 a.m. EST and will remain open until the final review date.
• Open the application on a personal computer or personal wireless device due to security limitations with Department of Defense computers. 

What You Need to Know

• Transportation to and from school for children living off the installation is not provided.
• Applying does not guarantee enrollment. Parents should still enroll their children in the local school available to them.

Next Steps

School administrators continually review applications for availability and will notify parents or guardians about whether there is space for the student to attend. If space is not available, the student will be placed on a wait list.

Timeline for SY25-26

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Who is eligible for the Expanded Eligibility Enrollment option?
   • Children must be a dependent of a full-time, active duty service member with orders to Fort Jackson.
2. Is there an age requirement for students to enroll in the Expanded Eligibility Enrollment option?
   • The Expanded Eligibility Enrollment option at each military installation follows the DoDEA Policy on early childhood entrance age requirements.  For the Pre-Kindergarten program, the student must be 4 years old on or before September 1st.  For Kindergarten, the student must be 5 years old on or before September 1st.  For First Grade, the student must be 6 years old on or before September 1st.  
3. What factors are considered for enrollment? 
   • School administrators will determine capacity at a specific grade level.
   • Availability also may change from year to year.
   • Where two or more students qualify in the same category and grade, the priority preferences at each location would determine acceptance.
4. How do I enroll?
   • Enrollment opens April 1 at 8:00 a.m. EST and will remain open until the final review date.
5. When will I know if my student is accepted?
   • School administrators will review applications and will notify parents or guardians about whether there is space for the student to attend.
   • If space is not available, the student will be placed on a wait list.
   • Applying does not guarantee enrollment. Parents should still enroll their children in the local school available to them.
6. Will transportation be provided?
   • Transportation to and from school for children living off the installation is not provided.
7. What if I am on the wait list for installation housing? Should I apply?
   • Families with a 90-school-day waitlist letter from housing do not need to apply to the Expanded Eligibility Enrollment option. Contact the school registrar for the enrollment process.
8. I am moving in June, July or August. Can I apply with my out-of-state address?
   • Yes, you can apply.
9. Are children of Reserve and Guard members that reside off base eligible for the Expanded Eligibility Enrollment option?
   • It depends on your orders. In general, if your orders are Title 10 for more than 365 days, then yes. If your orders are Title 32, then no.
   • DoDEA will review orders prior to final enrollment. For now, we recommend you apply.
   • The orders must assign the servicemember to the installation that is participating in the Expanded Eligibility Enrollment option.
10. Are children of DoD civilians that reside off base eligible for the Expanded Eligibility Enrollment option?
    • No. According to the language in the National Defense Authorization Act that authorized this Expanded Eligibility Enrollment option, it is only open to dependents of a full-time, active-duty member of the Armed Forces.
11. Are international officers eligible for the Expanded Eligibility Enrollment option?
    • No. Congress authorized the Expanded Eligibility Enrollment option for full-time, active-duty members of the Armed Forces.
12.  Is there before and after school care available for students who participate in the Expanded Eligibility Enrollment option?
    • Yes, this will need to be coordinated through the Child and Youth Services program on Fort Jackson.
13. How long will families be given to make their decision if selected for the Expanded Eligibility Enrollment option?
    • Within 5 working days (excludes federal holidays, Saturday and Sunday)
14. Do I need to notify my current school if my child is accepted for the Expanded Eligibility Enrollment option?
    • Yes, if a student accepts the offer to attend the DoDEA school; the student must officially withdraw from current school.
15. Do I need to reapply each year for the Expanded Eligibility Enrollment option?
    • Yes, you will reapply each year.
16. Could my student be accepted one year and denied the following year?
    • Yes, this is possible because the Expanded Eligibility Enrollment option is on a space available basis.
17. We are moving off base. Am I eligible for the Expanded Eligibility Enrollment option?
    • Yes, you are eligible to apply for this option.

Still have a question? Email us at JacksonSpaceA@dodea.edu for more information.