Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) joined Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Ashley Moody (R-Fla.) in introducing the Continuity of Military Parents’ Academic Schooling and State Standards (COMPASS) Act. This legislation allows military families to continue following the homeschooling laws of the servicemember’s legal home state during Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves, rather than immediately shifting to the laws of the new duty station state, reducing the burdens on those families and enhancing homeschooling options.
“As a father of three children who benefited from a homeschool education, I am proud to be a strong advocate for homeschool families in the Senate. With many of our nation’s military families choosing to homeschool, it is important that their children’s education isn’t disrupted amidst the unpredictability of moving duty stations. I am proud to join Senator Cruz in introducing common-sense legislation to eliminate this unnecessary burden and streamline the homeschooling process for military families,” said Senator Budd.
“Military families homeschool their children at roughly twice the rate of civilian families. Conflicting state homeschooling laws can undermine military readiness, family resilience, and retention by forcing servicemembers and their spouses to navigate different requirements each time the Department of War relocates them. This bill will provide military homeschool families with the stability and flexibility they deserve. I’m proud to introduce it and urge my colleagues to move swiftly to pass this legislation,” said Senator Cruz.
“Military families make many sacrifices so their loved ones can serve. They should not have to stress over a new set of homeschooling rules every time duty calls them to a new state. The COMPASS Act ensures the children of our service members can continue their education without disruption while their parents serve our country,” said Senator Moody.
U.S. Representative Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.-10) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
“Military families are already asked to sacrifice more than most Americans will ever understand, and when a servicemember gets PCS orders across a state line, the last thing their family should face is a bureaucratic penalty for following them. Twelve percent of active-duty military families homeschool, roughly double the civilian rate, because it is the one constant their kids can hold onto no matter where orders send them next. The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act already protects military families from conflicting state laws on taxes, voting, and driver’s licenses. Senator Cruz and I are simply extending that same common-sense principle to homeschooling, ensuring that a family in compliance with their home state’s laws does not have to start over the moment they cross a state line in service to this country,” said Representative Harrigan.
The COMPASS Act is supported by the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC), and Military Homeschoolers Association.
Read the full bill text HERE.
BACKGROUND
The COMPASS Act amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief (SCRA) Act to allow military homeschool families to continue following the homeschooling laws of the servicemember’s legal home state when relocating under PCS orders.
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