Killeen ISD and the Fort Hood School Liaison Office are prepared to assist military families in a major way.
A group of area service providers specific to military families gathered in the Harker Heights High School library Wednesday in the first of four scheduled parent engagement nights.
Called Military Families Connect, the gatherings are meant to provide information specific to military students and family members.
Future meetings are scheduled Nov. 16 at Shoemaker, Feb. 15 at Chaparral and April 19 at Early College High School. All meetings are set for 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Family members will have a chance to walk through the high school venues to pick up information and to talk with experts from KISD programs like Special Education and Parent Engagement.
They will also learn about counseling services, tutoring opportunities, childcare, behavior health and other services the school district and Fort Hood providers offer.
During presentations Wednesday, attendees found out about federal Impact Aid funding for military-impacted school districts that make up a portion of KISD’s annual revenue.
Killeen ISD Chief of College, Career and Military Readiness Nancy Patterson explained the state requirements for high school students related to future readiness.
She outlined some of the numerous opportunities for middle school and high school students to prepare for life after high school.
Buoyed by recent changes in state legislation, the district provides a rich variety of courses for students planning to go on to college or enter a technical career field or enlist in the military or some combination of those, she explained.
The question Patterson said she likes to ask is not whether you plan to go to college or the workforce, but ‘what are your aspiration.’
School Liaison Officer Liz Davenport explained the Military Interstate Compact, which helps military-connected students to continue their studies and other activities as they transition to other states.
“We want to make sure the bridge between services and families is secure,” said KISD Community Relations Director Angenet Wilkerson.
