School Liaison

School Liaison: Pamela P. Martin

When it's time to relocate, the School Liaison is here to help the transition go as smoothly as possible for your children. With Navy families moving every three years on average, a student can attend up to nine different schools by graduation. Our School Liaison (SL) helps families with children in Kindergarten through 12th grade and assists with everything from school registration and homeschool support, to meeting graduation requirements. Getting in contact with the School Liaison as soon as possible will eliminate much of the guesswork for you as a parent. 

What is a School Liaison?

School Liaisons are located at each installation and are the main contact for miltiary families, local school systems, and installation leadership for school-related matters K through 12th grade. School Liaisons are experienced professionals who support, advise, and build partnerships with the civilian and military community to help address common education challenges of military families. 

Who is eligible for School Liaison support?

School Liaison Program support is open to all DoW ID cardholders, educators who service military students and community partners involved with K-12 education. Support is available to all uniformed services, including National Guard and reserves, those in geographically separated units, the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service and the uniformed members of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

What types of support do School Liaisons offer? 

School Liaisons offer a wide variety of support to ensure the best possible education for military-connected students. 

Services include: 

• Transition support - including assistance with local school options, transfer of credits, youth sponsorship referrals, and more
• Nontraditional schooling options, including home-schooling
• Special education support and referrals
• Deployment support
• College, career, and military readiness
• Parent and educator workshops
• Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission, or MIC3, compliance

Educators: 

Contact your School Liaison for support with: 

• Military family resources
• Staff development on military culture
• Building partnerships in education
• Deployment support strategies
• Guidance and information on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children

Public School Information

**Please note: In Rhode Island your physical address determines the schools your children will attend. 

The Naval Station Newport School Liaison services the following school districts:

Newport Public Schools - 15 Wickham Road, Newport, RI 02840 - Phone: 401-847-2100 Fax: 401-849-0170

Middletown Public Schools - 26 Oliphant Lane, Middletown, RI 02842 - Phone: 401-849-2122 Fax: 401-849-0202

Portsmouth Public Schools - 29 Middle Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871 - Phone: 401-683-1039 Fax: 401-683-5204

Jamestown Public Schools - 76 Melrose Avenue, Jamestown RI 02835 - Phone: 401-423-7020 Fax: 401-423-7022

North Kingtown Public Schools - (For Jamestown students, grades 9-12) - 100 Fairway Drive, North Kingstown, RI 02852 Phone: 401-268-6400 Fax: 401-268-6405

Narragansett Public Schools - (For Jamestown students, grades 9-12) - 25 5th Avenue, Narragansett, RI 02882 - Phone: 401-792-9450 Fax: 401-792-9439

Enrollment/Registration

Please find specific enrollment/registration information for each school district at the following links:
Newport Public Schools | Middletown Public Schools | Portsmouth Public Schools | Jamestown Public Schools | North Kingstown Public Schools (For Jamestown students, grades 9-12) | Narragansett Public Schools (For Jamestown students, grades 9-12)

Private School Information

There are many private school options in the Naval Station Newport area.  Please conduct an internet search for private schools located in your desired town. **The U.S. Navy neither endorses nor supports the above organizations. They are provided as a purely informational resource for families**

Home School Information

RIDE does not directly supervise home instruction. In Rhode Island, approval of home instruction occurs at the local school district level. If you are thinking of home-schooling your child, please call your local school superintendent’s office for information. Rhode Island Department of Education Home Instruction Information | Rhode Island Homeschool Community | Rhode Island Guild of Home Teachers | The Homeschool Legal Defense Association

K-12 Special Needs

Parents of special needs students can connect with Rhode Island’s Parent Information Network or access the district Special Education Program:

Newport Public Schools  | Middletown Public Schools | Portsmouth Public Schools | Jamestown Public Schools | North Kingstown Public Schools (For Jamestown students, grades 9-12) | Narragansett Public Schools (For Jamestown students, grades 9-12)

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

EFMP Case Manager at Naval Health Care New England, 43 Smith Road, Newport, RI 02840 401-841-6041, FAX: 841-3368. (Adult family members in the program).

EFMP Case Manager at Naval Health Care New England Family Practice Clinic, 43 Smith Road, Newport RI 02840 401-841-4328. (Children in the program).

Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) Liaison,  1260 Peary St., Newport, 401-841-6923 FAX: 401-841-7698.

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.

Direct Step eCourses, another free web-based resource, can assist with navigating the complexities of special education laws and procedures.

Military OneSource offers assistance to families with special needs family members.

Specialized Training of Military Parents (STOMP)

Youth Sponsorship

The Youth Sponsorship Program is designed to assist young people in making the transition from one installation to another successfully. It is our goal to help incoming youth adjust and get connected with a youth sponsor at the installation. Youth Sponsors will provide information about area schools, attractions and the surrounding community. This program is created by and for youth with youth involvement in every aspect of the program. To apply for a youth sponsor please complete the request form and email it to your School Liaison.

Installation Child and Youth Programs

For Information about: Child Development Centers | School Aged Care  | Youth Sponsorship  | Teen Program 

Please go to https://www.navylifema.com/child-youth for regional information. 

Our website so that parents can get on the waiting list for military childcare. https://militarychildcare.com/ 

Frequently Asked Questions 

• What is the kindergarten age cutoff date?
  • RI state law requires all students be 5 years of age on or before the first of September to be eligible to attend Kindergarten.  Kindergarten is not compulsory, but full time school attendance is required for all students who are 6 years of age by the first of September.
• Do I have to live in the Zone where the school is located to attend? 
  • Yes. Rhode Island ties school enrollment to your address. You must be a resident to attend a public school district.
• Do the local schools have talented and gifted programs? 
  • Rhode Island laws do provide a framework for the creation of Gifted & Talented programs in the public schools, but this is an unfunded measure.  Local schools use differentiated instruction to address all learners’ needs.
• Is there school choice or other school options in the area?
  • Rhode Island does not have school choice laws. There are some charter school choices and there are private school choices in the community.
• Are there DODEA schools in Rhode Island? 
  • No, there are no DODEA schools in Rhode Island.  If you are leaving Naval Station Newport, go to https://www.dodea.edu/find-your-school for both CONUS and OCONUS locations.  For duty stations OCONUS without DODEA schools, go to https://www.dodea.edu/non-dod-schools to learn about your options.

PCS Support

Military School Liaisons (All branches)
https://www.dodea.edu/Partnership/schoolLiaisonofficers.cfm

MIC3 - Military Interstate Children Compact Commission
https://www.mic3.net/

Relocation
https://ffr.cnic.navy.mil/Family-Readiness/Fleet-And-Family-Support-Program/Work-and-Family-Life/Relocation-Assistance/

K-12 and Post-Secondary Academic Support

Tutor.com
No cost, online tutoring and homework help for U.S. Military and their families.
https://www.tutor.com/military 

Khan Academy
A personalized learning resource for all ages.
https://www.khanacademy.org/

Federal Student Aid - FAFSA
https://studentaid.gov/

ACCESS College Foundation
ACCESS Counselors support high school students with post-secondary planning.
https://accesscollege.org/high-school-advisors/

Join Services Scholarship Database
A comprehensive, fully searchable Join Services Scholarship Database for Military Dependents. 
https://www.partners-in-purpose.com/

Military Family Support

Anchored4Life
https://anchored4life.com

Blue Star Families
www.bluestarfam.org

Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC)
https://www.militarychild.org/

Military OneSource
https://www.militaryonesource.mil/

National Military Family Association (NMFA)
https://www.militaryfamily.org/

Navy Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS)
https://www.nmcrs.org/

Navy MWR
https://www.navymwr.org/

Navy MWR Digital Library
https://www.navymwrdigitallibrary.org