Military Families

Military-connected students are protected by state and federal policies designed to reduce disruptions when families relocate due to a Permanent Change of Station (PCS), deployment, or other military transitions.

These protections are especially important if your family is experiencing any of the following:

• Your student enrolled mid-year or after deadlines

• High school credits do not align with Washington State graduation requirements

• Your student missed athletic tryouts or activity registration due to a move

• Your child was enrolled in a specialized program (Special Education, Highly Capable, early learning, or dual credit) in another state

The resources below explain what schools are required to provide during these transitions and how families can advocate for appropriate placement and support.

Resources

• Military Interstate Compact - Ensures smoother educational transitions for children of military families moving between states, including placement, attendance, and eligibility flexibility.

• Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3) - Provides family-friendly explanations, tools, and guidance related to athletics, graduation requirements, and program continuity.

• Washington State OSPI – Interstate Compact for Military Children  - Washington’s implementation of the Compact, outlining state-specific protections and guidance for military-connected students enrolling in public schools.

Military life can impact family routines, childcare availability, and academic support, especially during deployments, relocations, or transitions between schools.

The resources below can help if your family is:

• Looking for before- or after-school care with flexible schedules

• Needing tutoring or academic support during a school transition

• Seeking emotional or mental health support for students or caregivers

• Experiencing short-term financial or emergency needs

• Trying to connect with statewide or military-specific family services

These programs are designed to support both students and caregivers so families can focus on stability and well-being.

Resources

• Right At School - Provides before- and after-school enrichment at PSD elementary schools, with flexible schedules, drop-in options, homework help, fitness, and engaging activities.
  
  Tutor.com for U.S. Military & Families - Offers eligible service members, DoD civilians, and dependents 24/7, on-demand online tutoring in more than 150 subjects at no cost.

• Military OneSource - Delivers free, confidential 24/7 support by phone or live chat for service members, families, and survivors worldwide.

• The Washington Military Department - Oversees state and federal readiness, emergency management, and family support services for military members, dependents, and civilian communities.

• Pierce County Veterans Assistance Fund - Provides emergency-only assistance for eligible veterans facing short-term needs such as utilities, food, rent, or medical expenses when other resources are exhausted.

• Washington State Military Department - Joint Services Support - Find comprehensive phone numbers and email addresses for leadership, support programs and emergency services across Washington State.

Military-connected families often need quick access to enrollment information, school schedules, transportation, meals, and academic tools, especially when starting mid-year or transitioning from another district.

The resources below are most helpful if your family is:

• New to Puyallup School District and needs to enroll a student

• Learning how to manage daily school information like attendance, grades, and transportation

• Looking for meal benefits or nutrition information

• Exploring JROTC programs for high school students

These tools help families stay connected, informed, and supported from the first day of school forward.

Commonly Used Apps and Resources

• Enrollment - New Student Registration - Start the enrollment process for students new to the Puyallup School District.

• Home Access Center - Provides families with online access to update student registration, review grades, attendance, and other important school information throughout the year.

• Bus Routes and Stops Information - The Puyallup School District uses StopFinder, connecting directly to our student transportation system and giving families an easy way to confirm pick-up and drop-off locations and share schedule details with trusted caregivers.
   
• Schoology - Monitor academic progress, assignments, and classroom information.
   
• ParentSquare - Puyallup School District uses the ParentSquare platform for school and district communications, and used to send primarily email, text, and app notifications in your preferred language.
   
• InTouch: Puyallup School District's Online Payment Portal -  Make secure online payments for uniforms, IDs, and more. Payments through credit/debit card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay are accepted.

School Meals

• Free and Reduced Meals - Benefits and reduced fees available to families who qualify.

• Menus and Nutrition Information - Learn how to access the My School Menus mobile app, which provides school meal information, and Student Menu Modification Procedures.

PSD JROTC Programs

• Air Force JROTC - Emerald Ridge High - The Air Force Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (AFJROTC) is a four-year magnet program offered at Emerald Ridge High School (ERHS) for grades 9-12.
   
• Army JROTC - Rogers High - The Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (AJROTC) is a four-year magnet program offered at Rogers High School (RHS)  for grades 9-12.

Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), located approximately 22 miles south of Puyallup, offers a wide range of on-base services that support military-connected students and families both at school and at home.

The resources below are especially helpful if your family is:

• Relocating to the JBLM area
• Enrolling children in school during or after a PCS
• Looking for childcare, youth programs, or recreation
• Navigating medical, special education, or family support needs
• Seeking legal or liaison support related to school or family transitions

These programs work alongside local school districts to help military families maintain stability and continuity.

Resources

• School Support Services - The JBLM School Support Services team helps military-connected families with school registration, educational transition, special education guidance and liaison support to ensure student success.
   
• Military Childcare (MCC) Central - Provides military-connected families with a centralized way to search for, request, and manage DoD-affiliated child-care and school-support options worldwide.
   
• Morale, Welfare & Recreation (MWR) - JBLM MWR delivers recreation, fitness, childcare, and community-support services on base to strengthen readiness and quality of life for military families and service members.
   
• Child & Youth Services (CYS) - The CYS program at JBLM offers military-connected families child care, youth development, sports-and-fitness, school-support and family-resiliency services from infancy through high school.
   
• Tricare West – Madigan Army Medical Center - Madigan Army Medical Center provides military-connected families comprehensive health services, appointments, referrals, and access to TRICARE benefits at JBLM and the Pacific Northwest.
   
• Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) - Helps military-connected families of children and dependents with special medical or educational needs access school accommodations, state/federal benefits, respite care, and inclusive recreation.
   
• The Legal Assistance Office at JBLM - Offers free, confidential civil-law help and notary services to service members, military retirees and their families, from wills and powers of attorney to landlord-tenant issues and claims.

Veterans and their families may need support related to health care, benefits, housing stability, or navigating life after military service. The resources below connect veterans to confidential support, federal and local benefits, and family-focused assistance.

This section may be especially helpful if you or a family member are:

• Seeking immediate crisis or mental health support
• Applying for or managing VA benefits
• Looking for help with housing stability or homelessness prevention
• Needing assistance from a Veterans Service Organization (VSO) or accredited representative

Support is available, and you do not need to navigate these services alone.

Resources

• Veteran Crisis Line - Offers free, confidential, 24/7 support via phone, text or chat for veterans, service members and their loved ones. No VA enrollment required.
   
• Veterans Affairs - A centralized federal portal to apply for and manage health care, education benefits, disability compensation, home loans, life insurance, memorial services, and more, whether you’re a veteran, service member, or family member.
   
• Get Help from an Accredited Representative or VSO - Guides veterans, service members, and their families on how to find and appoint an accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO), attorney, or claims agent to assist with VA benefits or appeals.
   
• Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) in Western Washington | Rapid Re-Housing and Homelessness - Catholic Community Services of Western Washington’s Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program helps very low-income veterans and their families quickly secure and maintain stable, permanent housing through rapid re-housing, homelessness prevention, case management, and supportive services.