North Dakota Joins Military Education Compact Published Aug. 17, 2011 By Office of the Governor North Dakota GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- North Dakota is now part of the Interstate Compact for Educational Opportunity for Military Children, an agreement with 36 other states to streamline the transition between various schools, for military families, as they deploy and move from state to state. The state's involvement was marked by a special event Friday at the Grand Forks Air Force Base attended by Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley; Rep. Kim Koppelman; Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota adjutant general; Superintendent Wayne Sanstead; and representatives of the active duty military and their families. The compact is the result of legislation passed during the 62nd North Dakota Legislative Assembly and signed by Gov. Jack Dalrymple earlier this year. The legislation was sponsored by Koppelman, Rep. Karen Karls, Rep. Mark Sanford, Rep. Lois Delmore, Sen. Carolyn Nelson and Sen. Rich Wardner. "When our military men and women serve this country, their families serve, too, and this compact helps ensure that while they are defending our nation here at home or abroad, we are supporting their children by helping them achieve their full academic potential," Wrigley said. The compact will assist the educational transition for military families who are oftentimes subject to deployments and movement from state to state. North Dakota is the latest to join 36 other states in furthering educational opportunities for the children of military families. Per legislation, a state council will be appointed to oversee the state's participation in the compact and Sanstead will serve as chair. Koppelman, who was the prime sponsor of the legislation and led the effort for its passage in North Dakota, emphasized the benefits of North Dakota's involvement. "North Dakotans care deeply about the dedicated members of our military who serve us so faithfully, and this demonstrates that we also care deeply about their families," Koppelman said. "We understand the sacrifices made by those who serve us in the active duty Armed Forces and in our North Dakota National Guard, and today, we demonstrate it by ensuring that their children's educational opportunities won't suffer because of their commitment to our state and nation." "We need a process for states to work together to help mobile military children," Sprynczynatyk said. "The compact primarily impacts active duty families, but there are components to the compact for National Guard children, such as excused absences during deployment, schools not charging tuition for a child who has to live with a relative during deployment and accepting power of attorney for guardianship. In the end, this is about helping the families who support our military and allow them to have a successful transition from school to school." "North Dakota's participation in this compact is important not only for our educational system, but for our military families who do so much for our state and nation," Sanstead said. "I look forward to serving as chair of the state council as we work to bring the benefits of this compact to our state." The Department of Defense assisted in drafting the compact along with the Center for Interstate Compacts, which is housed at the Council of State Governments (CSG). CSG, made up of all three branches of government in all 50 states, was previously chaired by Koppelman. For more information, contact: Jeff Zent or Jody Link at 701.328.2200