HOURS OF OPERATION
Monday – Friday: 8am – 4:30pm
Closed on the weekends, family days & holidays
Biography
Mrs. Hodges joined Team Dyess as the new School Liaison Program Manager in July, 2023. Mrs. Hodges is committed to outreach, advocacy, and partnership initiatives that generate real-time solutions for military-connected students in grades K-12. As a former educator, Mrs. Hodges has a strong passion for academic excellence and student growth. Her teaching career spans various grade levels and subject areas in schools across the globe. Furthermore, Mrs. Hodges understands first-hand the obstacles military-connected students and families face, as she is the spouse of an active-duty service member and mother to three school-aged children. Please reach out to Mrs. Hodges regarding any questions or concerns you may have regarding meeting the unique academic, social, and emotional needs of military-connected students and families
FACT:
Texas ranks second in the nation for educating school-aged military-connected students, with nearly 200,000 identified military-connected students attending public and open-enrollment charter schools.
The School Liaison Program (SLP) is the central point of contact for commanders, military families, and local school systems on school-related matters. The SL assists commanders and Total Force families in meeting the challenging demands of the military lifestyle by developing and maintaining partnerships between parents, installation leadership, local schools, including home schools, private schools, charter schools, virtual schools, Department of Defense Education Activity and International Schools and the community.
Mission: The School Liaison is committed to outreach, advocacy, and partnership initiatives that generate real-time solutions for military-connected students in grades Pre-Kindergarten through grade 12 as they face global educational challenges and transitions.
Vision: To deliver unparalleled educational advocacy, outreach, and partnerships for military-connected students around the globe!
CORE SERVICES:
School Transition
School Liaisons support transitional issues affecting military connected students and assist in facilitating solutions.
Deployment/Parental Absence Support
School Liaisons provide families and school personnel with resources focused on parental absence, to include the cycle of deployment and academic, social and emotional impact.
Installation, School and Community Communication
School Liaisons are installation subject matter expert to Commander/Command Staff/parents for all local Pre-K-12 education issues regarding military child education.
Home School Support
School Liaisons share information on homeschool issues, concerns, local policies, and regulations of state/local education agencies and connect home school families to their community.
Community Relations, Partnerships and Outreach
School Liaisons create a network of parents, community partners, and military/civilian personnel to support installation/community and school systems.
Academic Planning and Post-Secondary Preparations
School Liaisons leverage installation/school resources (e.g., Education and Training Flight) to provide graduating military students’ access to post-secondary information and opportunities.
Special Education Support
School Liaisons connect families with appropriate resources needed to navigate school systems.
Enrollment
What is School of Choice?
Active duty members with military-connected students now have the option to transfer their children to their preferred school regardless of their residency. It is the parent’s responsibility to provide transportation for their student to and from school if they leave outside of their zoned district.
Contact your Dyess School Liaison for more information by email at 7FSS.DyessSchoolLiaison@us.af.mil or call (325) 696-4591
- School Enrollment
- School Report Card
Although military members have a right to transfer their school-aged children to their preferred school (HB2892), extra-curricular eligibility is governed by University Interscholastic League (UIL). If your child participated in varsity athletics at a school in Abilene, and you would like to transfer them to another school using the HB2892 transfer law, you will need to transfer them at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year. This would have been the first opportunity (Subchapter M.442.h) to transfer, and the student will not lose edibility; thus, be permitted to play the following season without sitting out. To maintain athletic eligibility, the military sponsor/parent must complete two forms: Previous Athletic Performance Form and the Residency Waiver. Once you have completed these two forms, you should submit them immediately to the campus principal and athletic coach.
Supporting Military-Connected High Schoolers and Your Child’s High School Journey!
Your school liaison is here to serve and support you and your child as they face high school. We understand the unique challenge and opportunities military connected students encounter during this crucial period.
- Homeschooling, Private and Charter Schools
- Homeschooling Legal Defense Association
College and Career Readiness (Academic Planning and Post-Secondary Preparations)
Your School Liaison is ready with information and resources for your graduating military-connected student. Career planning information, scholarship availability, post-secondary information, and opportunities, are all available to set your student up for success.
Contact recruiters for military enlistment ASVAB
FACT:
Military-connected children move an average of 6-9 times during their K-12
education experience.
Special Education
If you need help with 504 or IEP plans, or support for your military-connected student with challenges, your school liaison is here to assist. They’ll ensure your student has the resources they need to succeed.
Whether you’re looking for program information or help navigating the school system, reach out to your liaison.
- Special Education IDEA Laws
- Dyess EFMP
- Special Ed Connection
- Direct STEP
- STOMP
- Dyslexia
- Special ED Brochure
- Special ED Q and A Homeschool
- Special ED Evaluation Request Letter
- Special ED FIIE Timeline
- Special ED IDEA
- Special ED Initial Referral Timeline
- SpedTex – Get answers to your special education questions at 1-855-733-3839 or inquire@spedtex.org
What basic information do I need to register my student?
When registering a child, parents should have the following (may vary slightly):
Proof of Residency
Current utility bill, mortgage or lease documents, or property tax records.
- Birth Certificate
- Driver’s License
- Copy of Your Military Orders
- Social Security Card
- Copy of Previous School Record
Immunization Records
To obtain the correct documentation, take your student’s current shot record to the Immunization Clinic on base. Dyess Med Group
FACT:
30% of military-connected children are between the ages of 6 and 11 years old.
Three things every parent of a military-connected student can do.
- Learn about the Military Interstate Compact Agreement or MIC3
- Complete and return the Impact Aid Survey every year
- Share this information with every military-connected parent you meet
Why are MIC3 and the Impact Aid Survey so important?
The Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3) provides consistency across states and was drafted with the intent to avoid conflict with existing state codes where possible. It replaces widely varying policies that affect transitioning military students and supports uniform treatment for military-connected students as they transfer between school districts and member states.
While the Compact is not exhaustive in its coverage, it addresses the key issues encountered by military families: in the areas of eligibility, enrollment, placement, extra curriculars, and graduation.
Sign Up for Child Mentorship
Transform Lives:
Enroll as a Mentor or Register Your Child for Mentorship with Big Brothers,Big Sisters of Abilene and Mentors Care!
Resources and Information for Military-Connected Students
Deployment
- Dyess AFB School Liaison-Deployment Letter
- United Through Reading
- Our Military Kids offers grants (up to $300 per eligible child) to pay for extracurricular activities for children, ages 3-18, of deployed and stateside activated National Guard and Reserve service members, as well as those of combat-injured Veterans from any service branch.
- Daddy Dolls Personalized dolls that resemble the likeness of a loved one.
- Comfort Crew has deployment comfort kits available for children 6-12 who are dependents of Active Duty, National Guard, or Veteran families currently residing in Texas. Go to https://www.comfortcrew.
org/militaryheroes.html to request one. - Sesame Street for Military Families offers children support videos and activities at https://
sesamestreetformilitaryfamilie s.org/topic/deployments/?ytid= zlRZuVIZQcw. - United Through Reading is a program that helps families stay connected and maintain bedtime routines through reading. Deployed members can record stories anywhere, anytime with United Through Reading’s fun, free , and secure app. The deployed member will record themself reading a book on the app, and UTR will send your child a free copy of the book with the recorded reading. Go to https://
unitedthroughreading.org/how- it-works/overview/ to sign up.
Mental Health
- School MFLCs at:
- Dyess EL
- Clack MS
- Abilene HS
- ATEMS HS
- Cooper HS
- Wylie East Elementary
- Wylie West Elementary
- Wylie East Intermediate
- Wylie West Intermediate
- Military OneSource
- Sensible Care
- Other Mental Health Support
- Mental Health Counseling Tricare Brochure
- Mental Health Counseling Tricare Flyer
- MFLC Brochure
- MFLC Parent Permission Slip