School Liaison

School Liaison: Kristen Ferullo

When it's time to relocate, the School Liaison is here to help the transition go as smoothly as possible for your children. With Navy families moving every three years on average, a student can attend up to nine different schools by graduation. Our School Liaison (SL) helps families with children in Kindergarten through 12th grade and assists with everything from school registration and homeschool support, to meeting graduation requirements. Getting in contact with the School Liaison as soon as possible will eliminate much of the guesswork for you as a parent. 

What is a School Liaison?

School Liaisons are located at each installation and are the main contact for miltiary families, local school systems, and installation leadership for school-related matters K through 12th grade. School Liaisons are experienced professionals who support, advise, and build partnerships with the civilian and military community to help address common education challenges of military families. 

Who is eligible for School Liaison support?

School Liaison Program support is open to all DoW ID cardholders, educators who service military students and community partners involved with K-12 education. Support is available to all uniformed services, including National Guard and reserves, those in geographically separated units, the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service and the uniformed members of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

What types of support do School Liaisons offer? 

School Liaisons offer a wide variety of support to ensure the best possible education for military-connected students. 

Services include: 

• Transition support - including assistance with local school options, transfer of credits, youth sponsorship referrals, and more
• Nontraditional schooling options, including home-schooling
• Special education support and referrals
• Deployment support
• College, career, and military readiness
• Parent and educator workshops
• Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission, or MIC3, compliance

Educators: 

Contact your School Liaison for support with: 

• Military family resources
• Staff development on military culture
• Building partnerships in education
• Deployment support strategies
• Guidance and information on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children

Public School Information

The area of Portsmouth Naval Shipyard physically straddles the line between Portsmouth NH and Kittery ME.  Military families living in base housing will attend school in the Kittery School District. Information for the Kittery School District as well as links to the individual schools can be found at www.kitteryschools.com.

Families not living in base housing who would like information about schools in other areas of Maine and New Hampshire should contact the PNSY School Liaison, kristen.e.ferullo.naf@us.navy.mil for further information and resources.  Please remember that in both states your physical address will determine the school district your child attends (with the exception of military housing within the PNSY fence line).

Enrollment/Registration
Please find specific enrollment/registration information at the Kittery School Department.  Medical information, required immunizations and forms are included.  Registration packets may be printed out from the website or you can call/email your School Liaison to request a copy.  Registration is completed in person at the individual school upon arrival.

State Immunization information can be found as follows:

Maine:
Maine immunization information

New Hampshire:
New Hampshire immunization information

Private School Information 

There are many private school options in the Maine & New Hampshire. Please conduct an internet search for private schools located in your desired city.

**The U.S. Navy neither endorses nor supports the above organizations. They are provided as a purely informational resource for families**

Home School Information

Maine

Parents residing in the state of Maine who wish to homeschool their children are required to file a letter of intent with the Maine Department of Education and the local school district Superintendent.  Please carefully review all information.

Maine DOE Home Instruction:
https://www.maine.gov/doe/schools/schoolops/homeinstruction

Homeschool Requirements, Forms & Laws:
https://www.maine.gov/doe/schools/schoolops/homeinstruction/requirements

Resources:
https://www.maine.gov/doe/schools/schoolops/homeinstruction/resources

The Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA):
https://www.hslda.org/

New Hampshire

Families wishing to Homeschool in the state of New Hampshire must contact their local school district to sign a letter of intent to homeschool.  Please carefully review all state information

New Hampshire Department of Education:
https://www.education.nh.gov/pathways-education/home-education

Information, Resources and Assistance can be found at New Hampshire Homeschooling Coalition
www.nhhomeschooling.org/

The Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA):
https://www.hslda.org/

K-12 Special Needs

If your child has special needs, an IEP, 504 or is need of special education services please contact your School Liaison prior to your arrival.  Guidance for transfer of records and connection with proper school personnel can be facilitated to make the transition as smooth as possible. 

For specific state laws and resources please choose one of the following links.

Maine:
https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/specialed

New Hampshire: 
https://www.education.nh.gov/specialeducation

Special Ed Connection
A free web-based resource available to Navy families, provides resources and tools that enable families to better understand special education requirements and available services (www.SpecialEdConnection.com). Please contact your local School Liaison for login access.

Military OneSource offers assistance to families with special needs family members at their website:
https://www.militaryonesource.mil/

Specialized Training of Military Parents (STOMP):
https://wapave.org/

Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)

Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) Liaisons are located at Fleet and Family Support Centers and provide information and referral to help EFM families identify and access appropriate military, national and community resources. They assist in the navigation of EFMP related programs and systems and are responsible for:

• Provisions of information, referral and systems navigation to special needs families 
• Linking families with available military, national, and local community resources
• Non-medical case management
• Development and maintenance of Individualized Service Plans (ISP)
• Partner with Military Treatement Facility (MTF) Coordinators to provide information, education and marketing. If you child has special needs, and IEP, 504 or is need of special education services please contact your School Liaison prior to your arrival. 
• Guidance for transfer of records and connection with proper school personnel can be facilitated to make the transition as smooth as possible. 

https://ffr.cnic.navy.mil/Family-Readiness/Fleet-And-Family-Support-Program/

Youth Sponsorship

The Youth Sponsorship program is designed to assist young people in making the transition from one installation to another successfully. It is our goal to help incoming youth adjust and get connected with a youth sponsor at the installation. Youth Sponsors will provide information about area schools, attractions and the surrounding community. This program is created by and for youth with youth involvement in every aspect of the program.

Students attending all three Kittery Schools will be welcomed by their S2S program. Families not attending the Kittery Schools who are interested in a youth sponsor for their child, should contact the School Liaison kristen.e.ferullo.naf@us.navy.mil. The PNSY Youth Sponsorship group is always excited to welcome new members.

Installation Child and Youth Programs

For Information about: Child Development Center | School Aged Care  | Youth Sponsorship

Please go to https://www.navylifema.com/child-youth  for regional information. 

Our website so that parents can get on the waiting list for military childcare. https://militarychildcare.com/ 

For parents who cannot find care within our CYP. They must be registered on https://militarychildcare.com/ and on a waitlist to qualify. https://usa.childcareaware.org/fee-assistancerespite/

Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA): 
DODEA NDSP is the website you need to visit if you are PCSing to an area overseas that does not have a DODEA school.

Frequently Asked Questions 

• What is the kindergarten cut off date? 
  • In Maine the child must be five years of age by October 15 of their kindergarten year. In New Hampshire the date is determined by individual school district. 
     
• Do I have to live in the zone where the school is located to attend?
  • Yes
     
• Do the local schools have talented and gifted programs? 
  • Most local schools have gifted and talented programs. 
     
• Is there school choice or other school options in the area? 
  • School choice varies for each school district. Visit the desired school district website for their school choice options. 
     
• ​​What schedule does the local high school follow? 
  • School schedules vary depending on the district. Visit the school district website for their specific school schedule. 

PCS Support 

Military School Liaisons (All Branches)
https://www.dodea.edu/Partnership/schoolLiaisonofficers.cfm

MIC3 - Military Interstate Children Compact Commission 
https://www.mic3.net/

Relocation
https://ffr.cnic.navy.mil/Family-Readiness/Fleet-And-Family-Support-Program/Work-and-Family-Life/Relocation-Assistance/

My Navy Portal 
https://my.navy.mil/

K-12 and Post-Secondary Academic Support 

Tutor.com
No cost, online tutoring and homework help for U.S. Military and their families
https://www.tutor.com/military

Khan Academy
A personalized learning resource for all ages.
https://www.khanacademy.org/

Federal Student Aid - FAFSA
https://studentaid.gov/

ACCESS College Foundation
ACCESS Counselors support high school students with post-secondary planning.
https://accesscollege.org/high-school-advisors/

Join Services Scholarship Database
A comprehensive, fully searchable Join Services Scholarship Database for Military Dependents. 
https://www.partners-in-purpose.com/

Military Family Support

Blue Star Families
www.bluestarfam.org

Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC)
https://www.militarychild.org/

Military OneSource
https://www.militaryonesource.mil/

National Military Family Association (NMFA)
https://www.militaryfamily.org/

Navy Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS)
https://www.nmcrs.org/

Navy MWR
https://www.navymwr.org/