School Support Services

Check out the Transportation Guide for Families.

Check out the Agencies that Support Families with Children/Youth with Special Needs.

Download the Specialized Busing Information.

Download the NYC 2023 Home Schooling Information.

Download the 2023 NYC Public Schools Admissions Guide. 

Download the Fort Hamilton Saint Joseph College classes schedule Summer 2023.

Download the Hamilton SLO Look Book.

Download the School Bus Regulation.

Download the High School Senior Stabilization Program letter.

Download the Registration Checklist.

Download the High School Registration Location Change Letter.

SUNY has temporarily suspended SAT/ACT testing requirements for students applying for admission to a SUNY bachelor's degree-granting college through the fall 2023, spring 2024, and summer 2024 terms. You may now decide whether or not to include your scores for admission consideration at each college to which you apply.

Download the SUNY College Application update for more details.

Students with disabilities often have trouble finding ways to pay for school and school related costs. There are many special scholarships and financial aid opportunities intended for particular students, such as minority students, those studying a particular field or applicants with a notable academic record. There are also special financial aid and scholarship opportunities for students with disabilities. The purpose of this guide is to focus on these financial aid opportunities and discuss how to take advantage of them. Please Download the Scholarships for Students with Special Needs to find out more information.

Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Scholarship Information session November 19th 4pm @ the Fort Hamilton Youth Center, 412 Sterling Drive. Presented by Major Michael Nguyen of Saint John’s University Army ROTC. 

Dear all,

A new bill was signed into law by Governor Hochul on November 11th, Chapter 605 of 2021. This legislation will help our military families with early enrollment and hence their ability to develop their academic schedules in a timely manner. Please download the Compact Update or visit the news report here.

Download Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) for more information!

Confused by your child’s math homework? Worried that it’s too hard—or too easy? How about science (or is science an afterthought in her school)? Remember, there’s more to these subjects than what appears in a textbook. You might be surprised by how much you can pick up from clues in your kids’ classrooms. Download a Parents Guide (Math & Science) to learn how!

Public School Enrollment Forms

https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enrollment-help/enrollment-forms

School Security Information

https://www.schools.nyc.gov/docs/default-source/default-document-library/a-412-security-in-the-schools-english

Discipline Policy

https://www.schools.nyc.gov/docs/default-source/default-document-library/a-420-english

Promotion Standards

https://www.schools.nyc.gov/docs/default-source/default-document-library/a-501-english

Health Services

https://www.schools.nyc.gov/docs/default-source/default-document-library/a-701-school-health-services

Pupil Transportation

https://www.schools.nyc.gov/docs/default-source/default-document-library/a-801-9-5-2000-final-combined-remediated-wcag2-0

Records

https://www.schools.nyc.gov/docs/default-source/default-document-library/a-820-6-29-2009-final-combined-remediated-wcag2-0

Promotion Policy

https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learning/student-journey/promotion-policy

Dear Families, 

  If your child doesn’t have a program or school yet for the fall, or if you’ve recently moved and need a new placement, we’re here to help. As a reminder, all NYC families with children born in 2016, 2017, and 2018 are  invited to join us  this summer  for a virtual information session. 

During each  event, we will discuss: 

• How to learn about schools and programs 
• How to add yourself to programs’ waitlists 
• How waitlists work and how to navigate them in MySchools 
• How to accept waitlist offers 

After the presentation, we will respond to your questions. Please note  that the content of each event is the same, but the language supports provided  at each  will differ. 

HOW TO JOIN ANY EVENT  

Each event is hosted live.   

• Join us on Zoom by clicking here at the event’s  start time.   
• Webinar ID: 813 9328 9846| Passcode: 123456  
• Or call in at: +1 646 558 8656 | Phone Conference ID: 81393289846#  

EVENT DETAILS AND LANGUAGE SUPPORTS    
 

• August 25, 5pm-6pm | Event held in English  
  • For interpretation in Haitian-Creole during this event, call +1 347-966-4114 | Phone Conference ID: 397 004 858# 
  • For interpretation in  Korean during this event call +1 347-966-4114 | Phone Conference ID: 259 218 651# 
  • For interpretation in  Russian during this event call +1 347-966-4114 | Phone Conference ID: 114 904 177# 
• August 31, 1pm-2pm | Event held in English  
  • For interpretation in  Arabic during this event, call +1 347-966-4114 | Phone Conference ID: 559 742 48# 
  • For interpretation in  Bangla during this event call +1 347-966-4114 | Phone Conference ID: 268 944 792# 
  • For interpretation in  French during this event call +1 347-966-4114 | Phone Conference ID: 706 381 633# 

Best wishes,  

The Elementary and Pre-K/3-K Admissions Teams, Office of Student Enrollment 

School Support Services provides Army school-aged youth with educational opportunities, resources and information necessary to achieve academic success. A branch of Child & Youth Services (CYS), School Support Services features School Liaison Officers (SLOs), who help schools, installations and Families work together for student achievement.

SLOs are your best support in the area of education, schools and military transitions. SLOs are knowledgeable in current education news and policies. They act as the conduit between the school community – including local public school districts, private schools and home school Families – and the installation.

How do they do it? By

• Helping schools understand the challenges military Families face
• Informing parents about local school policies
• Giving Families information about local schools, graduation requirements, after school programs, youth sponsorship and homeschooling
• Connecting units and schools through partnership initiatives
• Conducting workshops to help parents navigate educational transition and advocate for their children
• Providing an array of resources that benefit military youth and improve school experiences
• Here is an additional resource for returning back to in-person learning. 

Click on the video below to find out even more about School Liaison Officers (SLO). The Facebook Live event was presented by Military OneSource featuring a panel of School Liaison experts from each Service, explaining the benefits of the School Liaison program!

Home schooling has become mainstream and widely-used. We offer resources and information to help you provide quality home-based education.

Home School Legal Defense Association provides information on home school law, and general support and information about homeschooling.

Download a Home School Spring 2022 guide.

Parents who are new to homeschooling in NYC, or whose children have never attended an NYC public school, are currently required to submit copies of birth certificates and proof of residence with their initial paperwork only.

An insurance card may be accepted in place of a birth certificate. Theoretically, any proof of age, such as a passport or perhaps even tax records, should suffice.

If you have difficulty providing the birth certificate and the proof of address, citing the Regulation of the Chancellor A-101 (pdf format) to the DoE may be helpful to you, since (in an effort to protect kids who are residents of domestic violence shelters, refugees with no birth certificates, illegal immigrants, etc.) it spells out the necessity of admitting a student into a NYC public school (and therefore into the same computer system our kids are in) provisionally (until the birth certificate and proof of address can be provided).

You are required to submit a Letter of Intent stating your intention to homeschool your child. The LOI is due by July 1st or within two weeks of your decision to homeschool. The letter must include your child’s name, age and grade level.

Although it is not required by law, I strongly advise parents who are taking their kids out of school to send a copy of their LOI (Letter of Intent) to that school. You should not rely on the DoE to inform the school that your child is legally homeschooled. Your LOI addressed to the DoE, can also be sent to your child’s former school as a way of informing them of your intent to homeschool your child legally.

Address to send all NYC homeschooling paperwork:

William Harrington 
Director Central Office of Home Schooling 
333 Seventh Avenue, 7th Floor 
New York, NY 10001 
P:(917) 339-1748 /1750/ 1793
F:(212) 356-7523
E: wharrin @ schools.nyc.gov 

PLEASE NOTE: current DoE policy is that official documents (Letter of Intent, IHIP, quarterlies, and annual assessments) CANNOT be sent by e-mail or fax unless Mr. Harrington makes an exception because of unusual circumstances for a particular family.

If you go in person: The office is at the NE corner of W28th St, and the nearest subway station is the 28th Street stop on the Number 1 line. Be sure to call ahead and make certain someone's there. They see visitors between ten am and noon.

IF YOU RECEIVE A NOTICE OF NON-COMPLIANCE BUT HAVE SENT IN YOUR PAPERWORK, call one of the numbers above and let them know. In the past homeschoolers who filed on time have received Letters of Non-Compliance in error. Don't let an intimidating letter alarm you.

Filing Yonkers Paperwork

In Yonkers, homeschoolers send their paperwork to:

Silvia Zaluski
Coordinator of Pupil Support Services Yonkers Public Schools 
1 Larkin Center 
Yonkers, NY 10701 
P: (914) 376-8489

If you homeschooled the previous year, you must submit your IHIP for the next school year by August 15th. If you decided to homeschool midyear, then you must submit your IHIP within four weeks after receiving a response from the DOE to your letter of intent (which you should mail within twenty days of commencing homeschooling).

You do not have to use the government IHIP forms. You can make your own. Make sure that you include all mandatory subjects for that grade level (see the regulations in detail for your child’s grade level), including those pesky little items like bicycle safety, health, patriotism & citizenship, and arson prevention.

One parent files the following very simple quarterly report, the same report for each quarter, after filing a detailed IHIP at the beginning of the year.

[student] is progressing at a satisfactory level or above in all subject matter. We have had instruction in all the following areas, as per Section 100.10 of the Regulations of the New York State Commissioner of Education and Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP): Reading, Writing, Spelling, Language Arts, Arithmetic, U.S. History, Geography, Science, Health, Physical Education, Music, and Visual Arts. We have covered at least 25% of the planned material for this quarter. [student] had no absences from instruction this quarter, and has exceeded the required hours of instruction (225).

Quarterly Reports

Four times a year you must submit Quarterly Reports that show progress with the educational goals outlined in your IHIP. These reports must also record the number of hours of instruction (225 per quarter or 900 per year in elementary school , for grades 7-12 that amount increases to 247.5 hours per semester or 990 per year ) and the child's absences (none since, even when they are sick, homeschoolers continue to learn and are never absent). You may want to comply with your district’s request to have the quarterly reports filed at the usual times (Nov. 15, Jan. 30, April 15 and June 30, approximately), but the law states that you may furnish your schedule for these reports.

Year-end Assessment / Narrative Assessment

A Year-end Assessment is required with your fourth quarterly report (June 30). This assessment can be in the form of a narrative statement or home-made report card signed by a certified teacher or (if there is no protest) by the parent or instructor, stating that at least 80% of the educational goals have been achieved. If a certified teacher is required and none is available, a peer review committee, made up of at least two experienced homeschooling parents, will suffice. The peer review panel would sign the year-end assessment statement. Starting in 4th grade, a nationally approved achievement test is required every other year and starting at 9th grade, every year, to serve as the year-end assessment.

Here is an example of a narrative assessment:

A narrative can be a paragraph or even a sentence, or it can be like a report card with "PASS" or "A" next to each subject. I used one simple sentence for my narrative assessments. I wrote it as a cover letter and included it with my fourth quarterly report. In my third quarterly report, I included a cover letter that stated what form my year-end assessment would take (either a narrative or a test if it was required that year).

Telephone

Tel:(845) 938-6881

Address

Keller Army Community Hospital

900 Washington Road

West Point, NY, United States

10996-0000 

Does your child have 101 questions about your next duty station? Let a youth sponsor answer them!
 

Youth sponsors connect with children before arrival at a new duty station, provide them with information about their new communities and answer questions from a youth perspective – while being guided by adults in the CYS youth program and the schools.

Once you arrive, a youth sponsor will meet your child and can arrange community and school tours.

If you're preparing for a PCS move, contact your SLO today to sign up for a youth sponsor.

If you have a child with special needs, we can help you find the resources available in your school district. We can also connect you with your local installation’s Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) office.

Highly mobile children are entitled to an expedited process, including: a) evaluations in 30 days instead of 60 days, b) removed delays due to school district schedules for Families moving during incomplete screenings, c) continued Extended School Year for students moving in the summer. The United State Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services outlines these requirements for State Directors of Special Education. 

The Center for Parent Information and Resources offers parent education, acronyms, tools, webinars and a directory of local Parent and Information Training Centers to appropriately advocate for their children, proactively supporting personal accountability. Funded by OSEP.

Military OneSource has a range of resources in caring for a family member with special needs: education, health care, legal, financial, points of contact (EFMP, School Liaisons, etc.)

Military Community & Family Policy-Office of Special Needs provides directory of age-specific resources and States at a Glance for state education special education resources and parent resources.

DirectSTEP provides no-cost, Army sponsored online training for educators and parents on a host of special education topics such as understanding federal requirements, best practices for behavior management, IDEA eligibility, IEPs and more. Through the eCourses parents and educators learn how to apply education laws in order to obtain positive outcomes associated with critical education issues. Access the course listing and registration page through the links below.

DirectSTEP course listing 

DirectSTEP registration

We understand that military transitions for children include much more than school plans and enrollment. We have a number of resources to help make your move as easy as possible for the kids, including:

Military Kids Connect provides online age-appropriate resources to help parents, teachers and children cope with the unique challenges of military life.

The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (MIC3) addresses key transition issues military Families experience, including enrollment, placement, attendance, eligibility and graduation. All 50 states have signed the compact and are in varying stages of implementation and/or compliance. The compact applies to children of Active Duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members on active duty orders and members or veterans who are medically discharged or retired within past year.

If you feel that you have an issue that the Compact can help address talk with your SLO.  The SLO is able to assist by connecting with both the sending and receiving school to assist in resolving the issue.  If it is not possible to resolve the issue locally, the SLO will help you work with the state commission, and if needed, the national office.

Our support doesn’t end with elementary education. If you have children preparing for academic life after high school, we can help you find information about testing opportunities, scholarships and military-specific resources that can help you plan.

The US Department of Veteran’s Affairs provides information about Military-Specific and Government Academic Support G.I. Bill

The Transferability of Educational Benefits for the Post 9/11 GI Bill are very specific. The Defense Manpower Data Center, through MilConnect will guide you through the transfer process and your eligibility to do so.  Speak with an Education Counselor prior to making this election in order to ensure you understand the benefit.

In-State Tuition Programs for Military: Service-members, active duty for a period of more than 30 days and their dependents are eligible to receive in-state tuition at many public colleges and universities in the state where they reside or are permanently stationed. An enrolled dependent may pay in-state tuition as long as he or she remains continuously enrolled at the institution, even if the service-member is reassigned outside of the state. Regulations outlined in the Higher Education Opportunity Act, 2008 (P.L 110 - 135) and the Higher Education Act of 1965 (pdf) apply.

Here are some additional web resources to assist you with your child’s education:

Academic Resources:

Tutor.com for U.S. Military Families makes live tutors available online 24/7 to help with more than 40 core subjects and standardized test preparation.

Homework Support: Army Child Youth & School Services provides Homework Labs in before/after school programs for elementary students at the School Age Center, and for middle and high school students at the Youth Center.

Khan Academy:

A personalized learning resource for all ages Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom. We tackle math, science, computer programming, history, art history, economics, SAT and more.    

Support/Resilience Resources:

School Support Services include information about other programs you can use for support and resilience-related issues.

Military Family Life Counselors (MFLCs) are available to meet in-person on or off the military installation. The free nonmedical sessions are anonymous and may occur in individual, couple, family or group settings. Child Behavioral Specialists are located on the installation in Child, Youth and School Services programs, and in highly impacted schools located on and off the installation.

Military OneSource has access to free nonmedical counseling that’s anonymous and available online, on the phone or in person. Twelve free sessions may occur in individual, couple, family or group settings.

Ready and Resilient Workshops for youth and educators are offered through the SLO and Youth Center programs. These workshops provide educators and students with the same tools Soldiers receive through their Ready and Resilient training. As Master Resilience Trainers SLOs strive to develop a common language around resilience for educators, youth and their parents.

For information on how to attend a class contact your local SLO.

College and Career Readiness Resources:

College and career readiness includes the content knowledge, skills and habits that students must have to be successful in postsecondary education. It also includes training that leads to a sustaining career. A student who is ready for college and career can qualify for and succeed in entry-level, credit-bearing college courses without needing remedial or developmental coursework. These links have tools that will help you plan for your child’s college and career readiness:

Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) provides STEM opportunities for military connected youth. The website provides information about AEOP programs available to youth, scholarship opportunities, news, and ways to get involved.

Military.com Scholarship Finder Military.com provides a search engine to help you find money for your child’s higher education needs. Search over 1000 scholarships intended for military youth. They also have a Military Scholarship Handbook.

School Support Services Scholarship Database Listing of crowd sourced scholarships for military connected youth. Scholarships are listed in alphabetical order and provide information on deadlines and qualifications.

 Financial Aid
 

Provides a description of federal student aid programs from the U.S. Dept. of Education  and how to apply for them.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Apply for federally funded financial assistance for education beyond high school.

Get Ready for College - College Planning, Financial Aid

What is a Unique Military Child Identifier? Numerous states have enacted a voluntary report-only self-identification of military children within their public school systems. This data collection would allow monitoring of critical elements such as academic progress and proficiency, special and advanced program participation, mobility and dropout rates. Requirements and method of collection vary from state to state.

Impact Aid

Many local school districts across the United States include within their boundaries parcels of land that are owned by the Federal Government.  They must provide a quality education to the children living on the Indian and other Federal lands while sometimes operating with less local revenue than is available to other school districts, because the Federal property is exempt from local property taxes. 

Congress has provided financial assistance to these local school districts through the Impact Aid Program. Each year Military members and Federal employees complete a Survey Form. The amount of Impact Aid – or federal assistance –received is determined by the number of eligible parents/guardians who complete the survey form. It partially compensates school districts affected by federal activity for local tax losses resulting from tax-free federal installations.

Impact Aid Fact Sheet (we will provide a hand out to link to)

Impact Aid Website

Non-DoD School Program (NDSP)

At overseas/international locations where there is not a Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) school, NDSP supports a variety of options for your children, ranging from public or private schools to homeschool programs.  NDSP has a team of education specialists who are available to provide transition and educational support and coordination for all students, including those with special needs. Sponsors are encouraged contact the NDSP as soon as possible for specific school information. 

Email

Phone Number +1 (571)372-5863 or +1 (571)372-1897