GOP Advances School Choice Pilot Program for Military Kids Overseas
The House FY25 NDAA passed out of committee includes a proposal for military families that mirrors the Department of State's long-established school choice program for diplomats' kids.
The Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel has included an amendment to the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act to extend to military children the education allowance benefit that all children of State Department personnel currently enjoy.
Rep. Jim Banks's amendment would establish a pilot program for 30 students (children of active duty military and also DoD civilians) that will use the same regulations and allowance rate that the State Department uses. For example, the voucher that State Department personnel can use at either the DoDEA school or any school in Bahrain is around $26K for elementary, $27K for middle school, $29K for high school. If the provision becomes law, this pilot program could lead to the expansion of the program overseas.
At the moment, DOD only pays for military children to attend DoDEA schools, which are not a good fit for many children (and I've written extensively about the unacceptable issues that have come to light). Watch below to see Banks as he introduces the amendment and also the small debate that ensues:
Introduction of Banks Amendment to FY25 NDAA House Mark-up (May 22, 2024)
The NDAA now must pass the full House, and it will later be reconciled with the Senate’s forthcoming version before heading to President Biden’s desk for his signature.