H.R. 5987: Total Force Family Education Act

This bill, titled the Total Force Family Education Act, aims to amend existing legislation related to the access of Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) schools for children of certain military personnel. Specifically, it introduces provisions that ensure dependents of members of the reserve components who are on active duty can enroll in DODEA schools located at their parent’s military installation.

Key Provisions

• Eligibility for Enrollment: The bill states that dependents of reservists who are serving on active duty and have received orders for a permanent change of station are eligible for enrollment in DODEA schools. This means that if a parent is serving in a reserve component and is on active duty, their child can request automatic enrollment at the appropriate DODEA school, provided there is space available.
• Waitlist for Enrollment: If the school is full at the time of the dependent's request for enrollment, the child will be placed on a waitlist. This ensures that even if immediate enrollment is not possible, there is a system in place to accommodate the child as soon as space becomes available.
• Direct Applicability: The amendment directly impacts how DODEA schools manage enrollment for children of reservists, effectively ensuring that their educational needs are considered alongside those of active-duty members.

Impact on Military Families

This legislation seeks to provide a more equitable educational opportunity for the dependents of reservists by recognizing their unique service requirements and ensuring that their children have similar access to military educational resources that active-duty families currently enjoy.

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