Great Lakes - School Liaison

The School Liaison’s primary function is to serve as a conduit between parents, educators and the command so that military-connected children experience a seamless transition during the transfer between schools. Knowing that many military children move an average of every 2.9 years, School Liaisons can provide families with educational information to assist them as they begin their PCS planning.

The Child and Youth Education Services program supports military families with seven cores services provided by the School Liaison:

School Transition Services (PCS Cycle): School Liaisons assist families with school transfers and help “level the playing field” for military children and youth.
Deployment Support: School Liaisons connect educators with the military deployment support system to inform them about the cycles of deployment and the tools available to assist educators in working with military children.
Command, School, & Community Communications: School Liaisons serve as subject-matter experts for installation commanders on K-12 issues, helping to connect command, school and community resources.
Home School Linkage and Support: School Liaisons assist military families by gathering and sharing information on home schooling issues, policies and legislation from local school districts. They also help leverage military Child and Youth Program resources to support these families.
Partnerships in Education (PIE): PIE creates a volunteer network of resources to support installation and community members who have a vested interest in the success of all youth.
Post-Secondary Preparations: School Liaisons leverage installation and school resources to provide graduating military students with access to post-secondary information and opportunities.
Special Needs System Navigation: School Liaisons provide information about installation and community programs and services, make referrals to the Exceptional Family Member Program, and offer assistance in navigating the administrative systems within local education agencies.

SL Facebook Page

Public School Information

Great Lakes Housing Areas
North Chicago School District 187
https://d187.org/

Fort Sheridan Housing Area
North Shore School District 112
https://www.nssd112.org/Page/1

Highland Park High School District 113
https://www.dist113.org/d113

Illinois Enrollment/Registration

Illinois requires that a child live within the district boundaries of the school he or she attends. Residents are required to show proof of residency each year. Please see North Chicago School District 187
https://d187.org/

North Shore School District 112
https://www.nssd112.org/

Highland Park High School District 113
https://www.dist113.org/Page/225

Schools at all grade levels
Basic guidelines for registering your child in IL can be found at
https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Student-Registration-and-Enrollment-Guidance.aspx

Contact the appropriate school district for additional information on registration requirements, fees, and specific academic or extracurricular activities.

Newcomers and those registering their children for the first time are required by IL law to provide proof of immunizations. Here you will find information on immunizations as well as downloadable health, dental and eye examination forms applicable for Illinois. The Illinois Certificate of Child Health Examination Code requirements and a description of each is available at https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Health-Requirements-Student-Health-Data.aspx

Free and Reduced Meals
Income eligibility guidelines are listed at https://www.isbe.net/Pages/School-Nutrition-Programs.aspx.

Kindergarten and First Grade Eligibility Requirements
For enrollment in Kindergarten, children must be five years of age on or before September 1st of the current school year. Children must be six years of age on or before September 1st to be eligible to attend First Grade.

Graduation Requirements
The following information delineates coursework necessary to meet the IL state graduation requirements.
https://www.isbe.net/Documents/grad_require.pdf#search=high%20school%20graduation%20requirements

Private School Information

Please contact the SL at SLO.NAVTAGLAKES@NAVY.MIL for a listing of the many options available.

Home School Information

Great Lakes Military Homeschoolers
https://m.facebook.com/groups/GLMilitaryHomeschoolers/

For residents of Illinois
Home-schooling in Illinois is considered to be a form of private education. Parents who choose to educate their children at home are under a legal obligation to meet the minimum requirements stated in Illinois’ Compulsory Attendance Law (Section 26-1 of the Illinois School Code). Parents who choose to educate their children at home are obligated to teach their children “…the branches of education taught to children of corresponding age and grade in the public schools” and they are further obligated to offer instruction in these core courses in the English language. The “branches of education” include language arts; mathematics; biological and physical sciences; social sciences; fine arts; and physical development and health. For more information about home-schooling, please visit the Illinois State Board of Education web site at https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Homeschool.aspx.

For residents of Wisconsin
You may enroll your child in a home-based private educational program at any time during the school term in the state of Wisconsin. Wisconsin Statute 115.30(3) requires the child's parent or guardian to file the online PI-1206 Homeschool Report annually, on or before October 15 of the current school year. For detailed information on curricula, attendance requirements, diplomas, and special education as well as other topics, please visit the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction at https://dpi.wi.gov/sms/home-based.

An additional resource for military families choosing to home school
Home-school Association for Military Families
https://hslda.org/militaryfamilies

K-12 Special Needs

Parents of special needs students can connect with their local public school’s Special Education Student Support Services by visiting the following websites.

North Chicago School District 187
https://www.d187.org/page/student-services

North Shore School District 112
https://www.nssd112.org/Page/800

Highland Park High School District 113
https://www.dist113.org/Page/225

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.)

DirectSTEP® eCourses
Another free web-based resource that can assist with navigating the complexities of special education laws and procedures is https://elibrary.cnic-n9portal.net/document-library/?id=815.

Military OneSource
Offers assistance to families with special needs and family members at 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:

Provision 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 Treatment Facility (MTF) Coordinators to provide information, education and marketing

Youth Sponsorship

Youth Sponsorship is a program for K-12th grade students. At the elementary and middle school levels, many districts have programs in place for new students transitioning mid-year. District 187, serving Great Lakes base housing residents, has a Transition Counselor who can be reached at 847-689-6310 x129. For high school students attending North Chicago, the transition counselor can be reached at 847-687-4522.

The Navy’s Anchored4Life program is operating in both AJ Katzenmaier and Learn 6. This program is a comprehensive transition and resiliency training program that is in accordance with the Navy school-based programming standards.

High school students living in Fort Sheridan can contact the Highland Park High School counselor at 224-765-2054 or 224-765-2050.

Youth Sponsorship is available through the installation Youth and Teen Center. Please contact the School Liaison or the Youth Director at 847-688-5573

Naval Station Great Lakes Youth Sponsorship Application

INSTALLATION CHILD AND YOUTH PROGRAMS

For Information about: Child Development Center 2700 | Child Development Center 3110 | School Aged Care | Youth Sponsorship |

Please go to https://www.navymwrmidlant.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? 5 years old by September 1.
Do I have to live in the zone where the school is located? Yes.
Do the local schools have talented and gifted programs? Yes.
Is there school choice or other school options in the area? No. In the local K-8 there is a Charter School that could be applied for.
What schedule does the local High School follow? Traditional scheduling.

DoDEA Information

Department of Defense Education Activity
DoDEA

The website you need to visit if you are PCSing to an area overseas that does not have a DODEA school.
DODEA NDSP