Legal Services

The Arkansas Council For Military Children


MISSION

The Arkansas Council for Military Children collaborates with government agencies and school districts to eliminate educational barriers faced by children of military families as authorized by state law.

ACTIVITIES AND DUTIES OF THE ARKANSAS COUNCIL FOR MILITARY CHILDREN

  • Implement the Military Interstate Children’s Compact within Arkansas
  • Educate state and local education agencies and military families regarding the legal rights of children of military families
  • Assist with training District Military Education Coordinators
  • Assist in informing military families about the need to self-identify to school districts
  • Develop and administer recognition programs, including:
         The Arkansas Purple Star School program
         The Outstanding District Military Education Coordinator award program
         The Military Family Service Award
  • Conduct a Military Family Forum at least annually to receive feedback from Arkansas uniformed services families regarding the effectiveness of state statutes
  • Develop recommendations for legislative initiatives and Department of Education Rules to eliminate educational barriers faced by children of military families

COUNCIL MEETING DATES

The Arkansas Council for Military Children meets bi-monthly in odd-numbered months.  Meetings are open to the public and include an opportunity for members of the public to address the Council.  Meeting dates and locations for the 2023-24 academic year are:

  • July 6, 2023 – Chappell Armory, Building 3000, Camp Joe T. Robinson
  • September 7, 2023 – Location to be determined
  • November 2, 2023 – Beebe School District Central Offices, 1201 W. Center Street, Beebe
  • January 4, 2024 - Location to be determined
  • March 7, 2024 - Location to be determined
  • May 2, 2024 - Location to be determined
All Council meetings during the 2023-24 academic year include a web-based option for persons who wish to attend virtually.  Persons who wish to attend virtually may join the meetings via Zoom at the Arkansas Council for Military Children web-based meeting link. 

All Council meetings will begin at 10:00 AM Central Standard Time.

 

COUNCIL RECORDS AND REPORTS

All records of the Arkansas Council for Military Children are available to the public.  Click here for a sortable list of Arkansas Council for Military Children Records and Reports.

Meeting Record Packets include the agenda, minutes, and documents discussed during the meeting and are posted once the minutes of the meeting have been approved.  Additionally, the Council reports on its activities, accomplishments, and goals annually to the Governor of Arkansas, the House and Senate Education Committees of the Arkansas General Assembly, and the national office of the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission. The Council also reports on meetings held and attendance by its members every two years to the Joint Performance Review Committee of the Arkansas General Assembly.

RECOGNITION PROGRAMS

The Arkansas Council for Military Children sponsors several recognition programs. In addition to the Arkansas Purple Star School program, the Council offers the following:

THE OUTSTANDING DISTRICT MILITARY EDUCATION COORDINATOR AWARD

Each spring the Council recognizes outstanding DMECs for their exceptional work in support of children of military families. Nominations can be made online using the District Military Education Coordinator Nomination Form during the month of February.  Awardees will receive a certificate of recognition from the Arkansas Council for Military Children.

A list of past recipients of the award is available at this link.

AWARD FOR SERVICE TO MILITARY FAMILIES

The Council recognizes individuals for outstanding service to military families. The award is open to all persons not currently serving as a District Military Education Coordinator. Awardees will receive a certificate from the Arkansas Council for Military Children. 

The basis for the award may be for a period of service or for a single act that has clearly been of benefit to military families in Arkansas. The service must have been rendered during the two years immediately preceding the nomination for the award. The nominator should be prepared to provide as much detail as possible to support the nomination and should be prepared to provide evidence of the service rendered. Each nominator is limited to nominating one person only.

Nominations may be submitted online using the Award for Outstanding Service to Military Families Nomination Form during the month of February each year.

A list of past recipients of the award is available at this link.

REQUESTING ASSISTANCE

Families who need assistance do not have to come to a meeting or wait until the next meeting is held.  Assistance can be requested at any time by filling out this Request for Assistance Form online, by e-mailing the Council at ArkansasCouncilForMilitaryChildren@ade.arkansas.gov, or by calling the Council Chair at 501-683-5188.

INFORMATION BY E-MAIL

Would you like to receive information by e-mail from the Arkansas Council for Military Children?  Subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter.

Click here to unsubscribe.

Download past newsletters in pdf format at this link.

COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP

Biographies and contact information for members of the Council are available at this link:  Membership of the Arkansas Council for Military Children

For more information, please contact:

John Kaminar, Council Chair
Arkansas Department of Education
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education
Four Capitol Mall, Room 104-A
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 501-683-5188
Email: John.Kaminar@ade.arkansas.gov



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