Education Service Center Region 20
1314 Hines Ave
San Antonio, TX 78208
BRAC in TEXAS
 Only three BRAC positions in Texas
 Dr. Dan Gomez, ESC Region 20 San Antonio (1/2 time)
 Mrs. Doris Garrett, ESC Region 12, Waco (full time)
 Mr. Ken George, ESC Region 19, El Paso (1/2 time)
BRAC Counselor Contact
Information
 Dr. Daniel (Dan) Gomez
 Dan.gomez@esc20.net
 (210) 370-5343
 (210) 370-5754 FAX
 Counseling Specialist, ESC 20
 1314 Hines Ave, San Antonio, TX 78208
Important Web Sites and
Resources for BRAC
 Military Child Education Coalition
www.Militarychild.org
 Resources for military families
www.TEA.state.tx.us/mil
 Graduation requirements
www.TEA.state.tx.us.curriculum/ugr
 Post 9/11 GI Bill
 Military Home Front http://cs.mhf.dod
Role and Mission of the
BRAC Counselor
 Works with School District counselors to provide information
updates to military families transitioning to Texas from other
states or countries
 Acts as a liaison between Base or Post school officials to set up
training for district counselors, teachers, or parents on issues
related to military families adjusting to Texas public schools
 Acts as a resource help desk for parents to provide information
on graduation requirements for students coming to Texas and
especially the San Antonio area
 Coordinates with the Military Child Education Coalition
(MCEC) to set up training workshops for district counselors and
other school personnel in the area of assistance to military
families
What’s new in BRAC
 Growth in San Antonio area—Ft Sam Houston Basic
Medical Training > Navy, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard
 Joint Base San Antonio
 Will provide medical basic training to all branches
 Air Force Cyber Command at Lackland AFB
 Impact is more families coming to San Antonio public
schools, charter schools, and private schools
 BRAC training workshops for counselors to use in
supporting military families
BRAC Training for Counselors,
Social Workers, School Personnel
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Coping with Deployment, August 10, 2010, CC100810-K23, ESC 20, 8:00 a.m.-12 noon; Fee: No Charge; This
course is taught by Red Cross professionals, and provides strategies for parents and military families to help prior to,
during, and after deployments of the military members. Specific checklists and ideas for school personnel to help
families of deployed members plan for and cope with deployment upheavals.
Military—Questions You Had About the Military But Were Afraid to Ask, September 2, 2010, CC100902-K23,
ESC 20, Fee: No Charge. This workshop provides information on how the military works, relocates families,
deployments, and clarifies some myths and misinformation you may have about the military.
Diversity –Students from Military Families and other Mobile Students. September 30, 2010. Workshop
#CC100930-K23; Fee: No Charge; Location: Educational Resource Center, 8205 Palisades Drive, Judson ISD,
Live Oak, TX. This course covers needs faced by children in families of deployed parents, injured parents, and
transitioning students from other states , other countries; provides strategies for counselors and school personnel to
help students adjust to school.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Effects on Family Members, Especially Children, October 6, 2010;
Workshop #CC101006, 8:00 a.m.—12 noon; ESC 20, Fee: No charge; Defines post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
and covers the effects on military members as well as family victims of other tragic events; provides strategies for
guidance counselors and social workers to assist families.
We Serve, Too! Military and At risk Families Coping with Relocation, Deployments and Upheaval, November
2, 2010, 8:00 a.m.—12 noon, Workshop # CC101102-K23; Fee: No charge. This workshop provides ideas to
Elementary and Middle School Guidance Counselors and Social Workers to assist children of deployed parents/ grief
or loss, or stress management activities for individual/group counseling.
BRAC Training (Continued)
 Interstate Compact Agreement for Educational Opportunity for Military
Children, December 3, 2010, 8:30-11:30 a.m.; ESC 20,Workshop # CC101203,
Fee: No charge. Provides updates on changes and sample cases on the interstate
compact agreement which impacts placement, enrollment, benefits, graduation
requirements, assessments, and extracurricular of military students coming into
Region 20 school districts. Provides ideas to counselors and administrators on how
to support/assist new military students in making a smooth transition to a new
school.
 Supporting Children of the National Guard and Reserve Institute
(Conducted by Military Child Education Coalition)(MCEC), ESC 20, 8:30
a.m.--4:30 p.m. December 9-10, 2010; ESC-20, Fee: No Cost. Provides means of
support networks for children of the Army National Guard, Reserve components,
and geographically isolated families. Register at the web site militarychild.org .
 Similar courses as those above will be available in Spring/Summer 2010. Please continue to
check this web site for updates.
Samples of Improved Benefits for
Veterans from Deployment Areas
 Educational Benefits
 Indiana Wesleyan University—Degree completely online
 Military Discount and for all military personnel and
their spouses with proper military ID
 Dallas Baptist University—Patriot Veteran’s Opportunity
Scholarship Program. The VA and DBU pay 100% of
tuition and fees for veterans receiving the Post 9/11 G.I.
Bill. gibill@dbu.edu or www.patriot2patriot.com
 Home loans, financial assistance
 Educational benefits for deployed military members and
their spouses during deployments
Post 9/11 GI Bill Web Sites
 New GI Bill overview Military.com/money-for-school
 Supportive Education for the Returning Veteran –
SERV ; www.defenselink.mil/news entitled Program
Helps Veterans Transition from War Zone to Campus
 GI BILL Transferability of educational benefits (TEB)
www.defenselink.mil/home/features
 In-State tuition for Military Members and their
Families (Military Home Front);
http://cs.mhf.dod/content
Interstate Compact—Educational
Opportunity for Military Children
 INTERSTATE COMPACT ON EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR MILITARY
CHILDREN as of August 2010
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WHAT IT DOES
considers as paramount the continuation of a student’s academic program
removes barriers in educational systems due to military moves/deployments
ensures the educational rigor for students is maintained
establishes agreement between states and non compact states on how to handle issues
the same way
establishes a state council in each state
PRESENT STATUS
30 states have enacted it; as of Aug 2010
Governor Perry signed the compact on May 30, 2009
Council of State Governments (CSG) and Department of Defense Office of Personnel
and Readiness has worked on the compact since 2006.
Contact at CSG is Keith Scott, Director, National Center for Interstate Compacts,
(859) 244-8247, kscott@csg.org
Interstate Compact (continued)
 APPLICABILITY
 applies to the children of active duty military including National Guard
 or Reservists on active duty, veterans who are severely injured/medically discharged/retired/die
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on active duty
applies for a period of one year after discharge/retire/death
ENROLLMENT
must send official educational record within 10 days, unofficial copy given to student to hand
carry; student may use it to enroll
have 30 days to obtain required immunizations
allows student to continue enrollment at grade levels K through 12 in the receiving state the
same as their sending
ELIGIBILITY
special power of attorney is sufficient for the purposes of enrollment
a local education agency may not charge local tuition to a military child.
child does may remain in same school when living with other relatives
military children will be given opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities if
qualified
Interstate Compact (continued)
 PLACEMENT
 includes Honors, International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, vocational,
technical and career pathways courses
 receiving school can reevaluate
 provides flexibility in waiving course/program prerequisites
 provides comparable services in special education
 allows excused absence for students to visit deployed parents before, during leave, and/or
after deployment
 GRADUATION
 grants waiver authority to receiving school for similar courses at sending school
 for disapproved waivers, receiving school provides alternative coursework so that student
will graduate on time
 Texas requires completion of the TAKS for graduation; on occasion, will accept exit or
end-of-course exams, national norm-referenced tests, or alternative testing for
graduation purposes from the sending state;
 when transferring during senior year, allows student to receive a diploma from the
sending state if student is deemed ineligible to graduate from receiving state
Career Decisions!
 Start in 9th grade or earlier if possible
 Keep your grades up because of future applications for
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scholarships, grants, financial assistance
See your guidance counselor for financial help available
Remember!!! 7 OUT OF 10 JOBS REQUIRE SOMETHING
MORE THAN HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA
Vocational training: mechanics, plumbers, cosmotology,
paralegal, electricians, hourly paid employees still require
certifications or licensure. Have to attend business school or
technical school.
Even the military requires a high school diploma because it is
now so technical,
And they have enough qualified volunteers
No tatoos
What’s next?
 Local opportunities?
 Are you willing/able to move elsewhere to get a good
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education/job?
Do parents expect you to stay home and help with financial
help? You may have to go against their traditions/cultural
beliefs.
Bullying
Cyberbullying-Pressure from Good Friends with Bad Ideas—let’s do an
exercise-get you to do something that you think you won’t
do…..
At Risk Behavior Prevention
 Abstinence
 Remember that drug use/abuse is illegal and bad for
your body
 Absences are disastrous for your academic career and
future
**affect your grades; opportunity for scholarships and
teacher recommendations. Even if you score high on
SAT
Job Description--Student
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How Well Do You Do Your Job???
Your job is to learn, pay attention, bring supplies
Arrive on time—
Do your work…..good, better, best?
Get along with other students; get along with teachers
Respect the boss (teacher, principal, custodians, cafeteria
workers, parent volunteers)
Use appropriate language and best behavior
Take care of your belongings and school property
Help others
What is your pay for doing a good job?
What happens if you don’t do your job, or do it poorly?
What happens to adults if they don’t do their jobs at their work?
The Future
 What do you see yourself doing 5 years from now? Ten
years from now?
 What kind of job would you like to have? Work outside,
inside, in Texas, or some other state? Wear professional
clothing, shirt and tie for men, business attire and heels for
women? Medical white coats for doctors, pharmacists?
 What kind of car would you like and how much education
and job is needed to buy that car?
 What kind of dwelling do you like? A house,
apartment, rent or own?