Education Checklist for Returning to Washington

Returning to Washington after an overseas posting can be a daunting experience. The checklist below is intended to help parents make informed decisions and get a head start on the paperwork process.

Choosing a Public School: If you are undecided about where to live, the Virginia Department of Education has a web site that helps you to evaluate data that describes schools around Virginia. It’s called the School Report Card and can be found at http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/src – click on Individual School Report Cards.

Registration in a Virginia School District: In Virginia you can register by going to the public school in your boundary area.

Registration in Montgomery County: You need to go to the International Student Center at Rocking Horse Center, 4910 Macon Road, Rockville, MD 20852. Phone number is (301) 230-0686. If you have any problems, the supervisor is very attuned to Foreign Service family issues.

After school programs fill up quickly, but you must have an address to register at your local school. FLO’s Washington Area Schools paper includes web sites and links to registration requirements for all the counties in the metropolitan area.

It is very important to hand carry all school records, including shot records, TB tests that have a "read" date and signature on them, birth certificates, sealed transcripts, course descriptions and standardized, AP and IB test scores. This is especially important for high school graduation requirements since high school students face the challenge of meeting credit and standardized testing requirements for graduation.

Credit for Coursework: We have had situations in which returning students were not given credit for previous coursework because the name of the course did not match the local graduation requirements. Bringing along a course description and course outline from the previous school can help to match up the curriculum and in one situation we know of, actually saved the day!

Virginia SOLs: Confused about the new Standards of Learning tests in Virginia? Read The Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) Tests and the No Child Left Behind Act written for the Foreign Service audience.

IB and AP: Need information on International Baccalaureate or Advance Placement Programs in the area? Link to High School and College Considerations for Foreign Service Youth.

Teacher Recommendations Before Leaving Post: Junior/senior year high school students might want to ask a teacher who knows them well to write the college recommendation form before they leave post. It often takes time to aquaint oneself with new teachers in your new school. Make sure that teachers include details that talk about "the student as a person" and "the student’s personal or individual growth." More college information is available at High School and College Considerations for Foreign Service Youth.

Samples of a Student’s Schoolwork: Work samples are helpful if you want to assure proper placement. Work samples that demonstrate specific skills, especially for students entering from a special needs or gifted and talented program.

Special Educational Needs: You will need to start the special needs evaluation process as quickly as possible if you suspect that your child has special educational needs. This is also true if you have completed testing and evaluations (authorized while overseas by the Department of State) and if you do not have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) written by an American public school. A child will rarely, if ever, be placed in a special educational needs program without undergoing the detailed and lengthy evaluation process at the local school level. The process can be intitiated by either parent or a teacher referral. Bring this to the attention of the school administrator or guidance counselor as soon as possible for guidance. Contact FLO if you need further assistance. Learn more about special educational needs at Special Educational Needs and the Foreign Service Child.

Extra-curricular activities: Encourage your child to participate in extra-curricular activities as much as possible to help them reintegrate faster into American life.

Sports Teams: Does your child want to play organized sports at school? Go by the school to get the official form for school sports physicals and have the child’s physical information recorded on that form. Physicals must be completed and documented before a student is allowed to participate.

Many school sports teams organize and start practicing over the summer. Contact your local school as soon as you register regarding participation. Remember that the school physical is necessary before participating.

Immunization Requirements: Immunization requirements for the public school system can be found on the school web sites. Link to them from our Washington Area Schools paper.

Meet with your child’s teacher(s) and guidance counselor: No matter what the age of your child, meet with your child’s teacher(s) and guidance counselor to become better acquainted with school issues soon after your arrival. Be sure the school system (teachers and administrators) know that your child has just returned to the United States after some years abroad. Local school officials should be more aware of and sensitive to the special issues of cultural readjustment as a result of extensive outreach efforts made by FLO with guidance departments in the major school districts around the Washington area. For guidance or suggestions, refer to School Personnel and the Foreign Service Child.

Make your home a welcome place for new friends and acquaintances to come.

Realize that reentry can be a strain on the entire family: Families in transition need to be sensitive to the needs of all of their family members. Anticipate changes that might occur. Families who have made successful transitions report that they spend a lot of time together during this period.

Third Culture Kids (TCKs): Understanding more about the Third Culture Kid (TCK) can help one understand the various emotions that go with the Foreign Service lifestyle. FLO has compiled resources under Foreign Service Youth - Relocation Issues, Third Culture Kids, and More.

Courses: Parenting information sessions and courses will be offered in the fall for Foreign Service families on the subject of TCKs at the Department of State and at the Foreign Service Institute. Information can be found at http://www.state.gov/m/fsi/tc or http://www.state.gov/m/dghr/flo (click on "What’s Hot").

Foreign Service Youth Foundation: Encourage your child and family to join the Foreign Service Youth Foundation. This organization provides a variety of activities and programs to support the Foreign Service Child and the family.

FLO Advocacy: Remember that FLO is your advocate and can be an important resource for you. FLO web site information is current on education as it relates to Foreign Service Youth, whether at home or abroad. Be sure to register for FS Direct by clicking on SUBSCRIBE to FLO Newsletters to keep up on issues relating to Foreign Service life! Contact FLO for additional information.

An additional benefit of contacting FLO upon return is that it gives us an idea of where our students are. This is an enormous help for us as we go about our outreach and advocacy efforts on behalf of Foreign Service youth.

Returning to Washington

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