20 United States Code (USC) 926(b) provides the basis for the DoDEA to support school-aged dependents in overseas locations where there are no DoD-operated schools. This same provision requires the NDSP to align with the Department of State Standardized Regulation (section 270) to the maximum extent practicable. As a result, and only for dependents eligible for the NDSP, is there a home study education allowance. While DoD-connected dependents can homeschool in locations where the DoDEA operates schools, they are not afforded an education allowance to do so.
The education allowance is intended to assist employees to meet the extraordinary and necessary expenses incurred by reason of service in a foreign area, not otherwise compensated for, in providing an adequate elementary or secondary education for their dependent children. Reimbursement is limited to costs for educational services normally provided free of charge in U.S. public schools and for the purpose of the newly established guidance, the reimbursement is based upon that which is at no cost to a public school student in the District of Columbia or one of the adjacent counties in Maryland or Virginia (referred to as the DMV).
While the law does not specifically discuss home study/private instruction/virtual schooling, it is in the best interest of the United States Government (USG) to ensure students enrolled in a home study course, private instruction or virtual schooling in a foreign area are able to reintegrate into a public education system when they return to the United States.