Stevensville School District

STUDENTS 

Children of Military Families
It is the intention of the District to remove barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families transitioning to and from school because of frequent moves and/ deployment of a parent on active duty in the regular Armed Forces, National Guard, or Reserves.

Educational Records and Enrollment
In the event that official education records cannot be released prior to the transfer of a child of a military family to another school district, the District shall prepare and furnish to the parent a complete set of unofficial educational records, including but not limited to records encompassing all material maintained in the student’s permanent and cumulative files (general identifying data, records of attendance and academic work completed, records of achievement and results of evaluative tests, health data, disciplinary status) and special education records. The District shall process and furnish the official educational records to the school in which the child of a military family has transferred within 10 days.

In the event that a child of a military family seeks to enroll in the District, the District shall enroll and appropriately place the student as quickly as possible based upon information in the unofficial educational records pending receipt of the official records. The Trustees shall assign and admit a child whose parent or guardian is being relocated to Montana under military orders to a school in the district and allow the child to preliminarily enroll in classes and apply for programs offered by the district prior to arrival and establishing residency.

Tuition
The District shall not charge tuition in relation to a child of a military family transferring into the District who has been placed in the care of a noncustodial parent or other person through a special power of attorney.

Placement
The District will initially honor the placement of a child of a military family transferring into the District in the educational courses and educational programs based on the child’s enrollment in the previous school or educational assessments of the previous school provided the courses and programs are offered and space is available. Course placement includes, but is not limited to, honors, international baccalaureate, advanced placement, vocational, technical, and career pathways courses. Educational programs include, but are not limited to, gifted and talented programs. If appropriate, the District may perform subsequent evaluations to ensure the child continues to be appropriately placed.

The Superintendent may waive course or program prerequisites or other preconditions for a child of a military family’s placement in any courses or programs.

Extracurricular Activities
The District shall facilitate the opportunity for a child of a military family transferring into the District to participate in extracurricular activities, regardless of application deadlines, provided that the child is otherwise qualified.

Children of Military Families with Disabilities
The District shall initially provide comparable services to a child of a military family transferring into the District who is receiving special education and related services pursuant to an individual education program under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The District shall make appropriate accommodations and modifications to address the educational needs of children of military families transferring into the District who qualify for services under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, subject to any existing Section 504 plan. If appropriate, the District may perform subsequent evaluations to ensure the child continues to be appropriately placed.

Legal References:
§ 20-1-230, MCA Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children
§ 20-5-101, MCA Admittance of child to school (Revised by House Bill 68)
House Bill 68 Early school enrollment for children of relocated military families

Cross Reference:
2161 Special Education and Accommodations
2162 Section 504 Procedural Safeguards
2413 Credit Transfer/Assessment for Placement
3130 Entrance, Placement and Transfer
3123 Attendance
3141 Discretionary Nonresident Student Attendance
3606 Transfer of Student Records

Policy History:
Adopted on: February 13, 2019
Reviewed on: January 9, 2019; August 10, 2021
Revised on: October 12, 2021