Students and Families Affiliated with the Military

Over 16,000 students in Ohio are members of military families. Frequent moves and family separations through deployments, as well as reintegration issues, can make life especially challenging.  

Military-Connected Youth Supports   

Students and families can use the following links to learn more about ways Ohio supports military-connected students:  

• Enrollment Options for Students from Active Duty Military Families lists the options that military families have with respect to enrollment when transitioning to Ohio.  
• Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children assists military-connected students with enrollment, placement, eligibility, and graduation when transitioning to a new school. 
• Purple Star Schools has a map of military-friendly schools across the state. The Purple Star Award recognizes schools that show a major commitment to students and families connected to our nation’s military.  
• Junior Reserve Office Training Corps (JROTC) lists information and locations of JROTC programs across the state.  
• Military Signing Day is an annual celebration of students from across the state that commit themselves to serving in the United States military. 
• Collegiate Purple Star is an award program recognizing military-friendly colleges and universities in Ohio. 

Complete this form to sign up for our monthly newsletter about serving military-connected youth in Ohio.    

Transition Resources

A military-connected student can move six to nine times over the course of a military career. The School Liaison Office at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base serves all military families in Ohio, no matter their service status. Below are other resources to assist families during transitions from one school to another: 

• Military OneSource: Changing Schools
• Military OneSource: Education Directory for Children with Special Needs 
• Military OneSource: Deployment Checklists 
• Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission 
• Military Student Consultant - Military Child Education Coalition

Related Resources  

Last Modified: 5/18/2026 3:13:12 PM

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