Military Child Education Coalition Teams with Gates Foundation on Behalf of Military-Connected Children

HARKER HEIGHTS, Texas, Dec. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Military Child Education Coalition is teaming with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to improve the likelihood that children of America's service members and post 9/11 veterans are college and career ready.  In keeping with its mission to ensure educational opportunities for the nation's nearly 4 million military-connected children, the Military Child Education Coalition will advocate for the timely implementation of clear and consistent educational benchmarks known as the Common Core State Standards.  Recognizing that "good things happen at the local level," the MCEC will work with friends and supporters to encourage continued educational progress at the local community and state level across our nation.

According to Dr. Mary M. Keller, President and CEO of the Military Child Education Coalition, Common Core Standards are especially beneficial to military-connected students who move three times more frequently than their civilian classmates, or experience the turbulence of separation from a parent.

Approximately 80% of military-connected children attend public schools, and the remaining attend Department of Defense Dependent Schools, private and parochial schools, or are home-schooled.

These children, with parents serving in the Active Duty, National Guard or Reserve forces, have unique challenges related to the continuity of their learning progress.

"Common Core Standards are essential for military-connected students because they increase the predictability and continuity of our highly mobile students' academic experiences," explains Dr. Keller. Though frequent school moves can have an adverse impact on student progress in all content areas, the Military Child Education Coalition research and experience clearly substantiates mathematics as the area of highest need, and advocacy campaigns will reflect that focus. This joint effort is paramount to serving the children of current and veteran service members who have served our nation. With both organizations striving to ensure young people reach their full potential, the partnership reflects a shared goal of providing all students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed beyond high school, college, career, and life.

ABOUT THE MILITARY CHILD EDUCATION COALITION

Founded in 1998, the Military Child Education Coalition® (MCEC®) is a 501(c)(3) global, nonprofit leadership and advocacy organization focused on ensuring quality educational opportunities for America's four million military-connected children affected by mobility, family separation, and transition. For more information, visit www.MilitaryChild.org.

SOURCE Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC)